There are several standards that robotics manufacturers and end-users need to be aware of. Six of the standards are described here. A single, international safety standard would go a long way toward eliminating confusion and ensuring that any given robot complies with safety guidelines.IEC 61508 (International Electrotechnical Commission): An international standard that outlines functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems. The standard is generic in that it applies to these systems irrespective of their applications, but it emphasizes how safety instruments need to be designed and maintained to guarantee a certain safety level.
EEC 98/37/EC Machinery Directive (European Compliance): This directive applies to all mechanical equipment either for workplace or domestic use. Its purpose is to assist the industry by ensuring a common policy of safety and supply of machinery across the European economic area. There is a strong emphasis on third-party testing for safety.
OSHA 1910.212 (U.S.): These are general requirements for machine guarding to protect the operator and other employees in the area from hazards. It offers details on how to safeguard the area, depending upon the type of machine.
ANSI/RIA R15.06-1999 (U.S.): Created by the Robotic Industries Association, this 85-page document outlines the installation criteria for safeguarding the robot. It goes into detail on how a robot needs to be used an industrial setting in order to ensure personnel safety on the worksite. Everything from safeguarding the space with perimeter fencing or light curtains to adding safety controllers and safety buses is offered in detail.
CSA Z434 (Canadian Standards Association): Now in development, this standard offers many of the same guidelines as the ANSI/RIA R15.06-1999 that pertain to machine safety and warning equipment in the workplace for robots, but it is tailored to Canadian mandates under the CSA Occupational Health and Safety program.
ANSI B11.19-2003 (American National Standards Institute): Covers the safety performance requirements as they relate to the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of safeguarding devices for machine tools.
*This list is representative, not all-inclusive