National Robot Safety Conference XVII Highlights OSHA, New Developments in Robot Safety Standards

YPSILANTI, Mich.--Oct. 4, 2005--This year, OSHA has two speakers at the National Robot Safety Conference XVII in Ypsilanti, Michigan (Metro Detroit). Compliance Officer, Aaron Priddy, leads a Machine Tool Safety workshop, and John Washam of OSHA leads a session on how the robot safety standard is applied by this agency. Machine tool and robot safety are thoroughly covered during the four-day event, October 24-27, 2005.

Attendees will be among the first to hear of developments in robot and machine tool safety, including a new Technical Report on Teaching Multiple Robots which augments the ANSI/RIA R15.06-1999 Robot Safety Standard. RIA is the official secretariat of this standard, and the standard development committee (many of whom will be at the Conference) is now working on a new release, which will be greatly influenced by the international ISO standards.

"An international program to revise the ISO 10218:1992 (International Standard for robot safety) is ongoing and progressing well," said Jeff Fryman, RIA's Director of Standards Development. "So that the International Standard will be relevant for use in the United States, the R15.06 committee is getting active again to function as the U.S. national 'shadow' committee to the international effort. If you have a passion for safety, are interested in standards development, and are not yet active on the R15.06, now is the time to contact me and express an interest in participating."

Jeff Fryman (jfryman@robotics.org) is one of the featured speakers at the National Robot Safety Conference. He teaches the Pre-Conference Workshop, "Understanding the Robot Safety Standard" on Monday, and presents standards updates to Conference attendees during the Tuesday/Wednesday sessions. He also is the Risk Assessment instructor in a Post-Conference Workshop on Thursday.

"The National Robot Safety Conference features presentations from top robot safety professionals as well as presentations of interest to anyone associated with industrial machine safety," said Fryman. "Get the answers you need to your safety questions; learn from the experts, network with your peers, and see the latest in robot and safety equipment."

This four-day Conference includes a trade fair on Tuesday, October 25, with 40 leading robot and safety equipment suppliers, systems integrators and consultants on display. Official sponsors include long-time RIA members (alpha order): ABB Inc., FANUC Robotics America, Inc., Motoman, Inc., Nachi Robotic Systems, Inc., Pilz Automation Safety, Scientific Technologies Inc., SICK, Inc.

For more information, call 734/994-6088, or visit RIA's Web site at www.roboticsonline.com. Founded in 1974, RIA is North America's leading robotics trade group, representing some 240 robotics manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, research groups, and consulting firms.