How to Safeguard Your Robots and Robot Cells

No matter what type of robot you have, SICK safety solutions can increase productivity. 

 Your system could include a fixed industrial robot, a collaborative robot, or a robot operating in a combination of fixed and collaborative modes. With properly selected safety equipment, you can dial up the level of safe human interaction while maintaining efficient production levels.

Step 1: Perform a Risk Assessment

Understand the relevant standards that are required at your location for your operations.
Some core risk assessment and safeguarding standard associations include ANSI/RIA15.06, ISO10218-1 and ISO10218-2, and CSA-Z434.
Look beyond the robot arm for possible safety risks. Consider all aspects of the robot system.

Here are some great questions to discuss with your team as you get started:

• What type of tooling and end-effector will your robot use?
• With which devices and machines will the robot interact?
• What type of load your robot will carry – will it have a special safety aspects like high temperature or sharp edges?
• Who will interact with the robot on a daily basis?
• How will they approach the robot?
• What task will they perform near the robot?
• How will they exit the robot area?

Neff Power can help you with a complete SICK Safety Risk Assessment for your unique robotic application.

Step 2: Consider Safe Sequence Monitoring 

Safe sequence monitoring enables flexible solutions for human-robot interaction. With a combination of SICK area scanners, controllers, E-stop & start buttons, you can configure any robot area for safety.

Your system could include a fixed industrial robot, a collaborative robot, or a robot operating in a combination of fixed and collaborative modes.

SICK provides safe sequence solutions for all levels of human-robot interaction. 

Step 3: Consider Additional Common Safety Features and Enhancements

In addition to Safe Sequence Monitoring, you may want to consider the addition of safety features. The level of human interaction with your robot will help determine what type of additional features are ideal for your application.

Here are some great questions to discuss with your team as you explore additional safety enhancements:

• How do you want a maintenance crew to access your robot or nearby machines?
• Will inanimate objects, like mobile workstations, AMRs or carts also enter the robot cell?
• Do you anticipate swapping out or reassigning robots to different cells?

You may want to consider additional safety equipment for your robot cell:

• Hard fences for perimeter guarding
• Access doors with safety interlock switches
• Safety light curtains and grids
• Safety mats
• Three position enabling devices
• Laser scanners
• Safety camera systems
• Double reset functions for entering and exiting