ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

December 3, 2018

1. Alliance Background


1. Date Signed



October 5, 2017

2. Evaluation Period



October 5, 2017-September 30, 2018

3. Alliance Overview and Goals



The OSHA, RIA, and NIOSH Alliance enhances OSHA's and NIOSH's technical expertise, improves awareness of workplace hazards associated with traditional industrial robots and the emerging technology of human robot collaboration (HRC) installations and systems, and helps identify needed research to reduce workplace hazards. The Alliance fosters a technical exchange and information sharing among RIA members, OSHA, NIOSH, employers, and workers concerning mechanical (machine guarding, lockout/tagout), electrical, and other hazards, and how best to controls exposures during operations involving human interaction with the robotic systems found in workplaces now and in the future.

2. Implementation Team Meetings

• 2/09/2018
• 5/15/2018
• 8/28/2018

In addition to the formal meeting, two work groups met throughout the reporting period to complete work on technical information and training related projects, and the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

3. Results of Alliance Activities in Support of Agreement Goals



Dissemination: Alliance Program participant shared information on agency-developed or OSHA Alliance Program-developed tools and resources, OSHA standards/rulemakings, enforcement, and outreach campaigns.

Dissemination Type	Date	Description	Emphasis Areas*	Number Reached
Webpage	10/6/17 - 9/30/18	Alliance webpage - OSHA website		1,108
Webpage	10/1/17 - 10/1/18	NIOSH webpage on Robotics		3,187
News Release	10/16/2017	NIOSH News Release Announcing new Center for Occupational Robotics Research; referenced and provided link to OSHA Alliance page		Not Available
Blog Post	12/5/2017	NIOSH Science Blog: NIOSH Presents: An Occupational Safety and Health Perspective on Robotics Applications in the Workplace		Not Available
Newsletter (electronic)	2/5/2018	NIOSH ENews, From the Director's Desk: Proactively addressing the increased use and functions of robotics in the Workplace; referenced and provided link to OSHA Alliance Page		70,000
Newsletter (electronic)	12/21/2017	Global Robotics Standards Update (quarterly newsletter) - Dec 2017 edition featured article about the launch of the Alliance		648
Newsletter	2/1/2018	NIOSH ENews, From the Director's Desk: Proactively addressing the increased use and functions of robotics in the Workplace; referenced and provided link to OSHA Alliance Page		70,000
Facebook	10/1/2017	Post on new NIOSH robotics webpage		3,920
Twitter	10/1/2017	2 Tweets; one on the NIOSH robotics webpage; the other on the new NIOSH Center for Occupational Robotics Research		2,035
Newsletter	5/4/2018	Global Robotics Standards Update (RIA quarterly newsletter) - Q1 2018 edition featured article about the terms of the Alliance.	Safety & Health Programs, Safety in industrial robotics	447
Newsletter	6/29/2018	Global Robotics Standards Update (RIA quarterly newsletter) - Q2 2018 edition featured article about the meetings of the Alliance.	Safety & Health Programs, Safety in industrial robotics	606
TOTAL				151,951

Outreach Events and Training for non-OSHA Staff: Alliance Program participant or OSHA participation in an event such as a roundtable, conference, informational webinar, stand-down, meeting, or training in support of the Alliance or an OSHA initiative.

Activity Type	Date	Event Name	Participant Name(s) and Affiliation(s)	Title Of Presentation (if applicable)	City	State	Emphasis Areas*	Number Reached
Speech/Presentation	10/12/2017	RIA, National Robot Safety Conference (NRSC)	Hongwei Hsiao, NIOSH; John Sammarco, NIOSH; Scott Earnest, NIOSH	Robotics Applications in the Workplace: An Occupational Safety and Health Perspective	Pittsburgh	PA	Safety & Health Programs	90
Speech/Presentation	10/13/2017	Tri-state Occupational Medicine Association Conference	HeeSun Choi, NIOSH	Robotics Applications in the Workplace: An Occupational Safety and Health Perspective	Dublin	OH	Safety & Health Programs	30
Speech/Presentation	10/27/2017	Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Research Seminar, University of Minnesota	Dawn Castillo, NIOSH	Safety Research at NIOSH	Minneapolis	MN		30
Webinar	2/1/2018	National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Healthy Workplace Design Council	Dawn Castillo, NIOSH	NIOSH Center for Occupational Robotics Research				27
Webinar	3/14/2018	NORA Manufacturing Council	HeeSun Choi, NIOSH	NIOSH Center for Occupational Robotics Research				37
Speech/Presentation	10/10/2017	NRSC	Carole Franklin, Director of Standards Development, RIA	Introduction to NRSC 2017	Pittsburgh	PA		275
Speech/Presentation	10/10/2017	NRSC	Christopher Robinson, OSHA, Pittsburgh Area Office	An OSHA Perspective	Pittsburgh	PA		275
Speech/Presentation	4/12/2018	Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Development Meeting	Chris Wendt, NIOSH	Advancements in Robotics and Safety Implication?	Pickerington	OH		60
Seminar	4/13/2018	North Carolina State University	Hongwei Hsiao, NIOSH	Robotics Research and Applications for Occupational Safety and Health	Raleigh	NC		40
Webinar	4/19/2018	Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Centers and Training Grantees	Hongwei Hsiao, NIOSH	Robotics in Occupational Safety and Health				45
Speech/Presentation	4/19/2018	16th Annual NORA Young and New Investigators Symposium	Brad Husberg, NIOSH	NIOSH, NORA, and Robots	Salt Lake City	UT		110
Speech/Presentation	9/13/2018	Puget Sound Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Symposium	Grant King- NIOSH	Robotics - the Wave of the Past, Present and Future	Des Moines	WA		150
Speech/Presentation	9/20/2018	OSHA Construction Alliance Roundtable	Scott Earnest- NIOSH	Alliance update and presentation: "Labor Trends in the Construction Industry"	Washington DC		Construction	35
Other- Poster	9/24/2018	The 11th International Occupational Hygiene Association International Scientific Conference	Thais Morata, NIOSH; Hongwei Hsiao, NIOSH; Dawn Castillo, NIOSH; HeeSun Choi, NIOSH	The Role of Robotics in Workplace Safety and Health	Washington, DC			40
Other- Panel Discussion	9/27/2018	ROBOBusiness	Matthew Linton, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.; Jeff Burnstein, Association for Advancing Autormation (a3); Brian Carlisle, Precise Automation; Dawn Castillo, NIOSH	Safe vs. Safer: Public Perception on AI and Robotics Changing	Santa Clara	CA		200
Speech/ Presentation	4/10/2018	Collaborative Robots Track at The Vision Show	Carole Franklin, Director of Standards Development, RIA	Introduction to Collaborative Robot Safety	Boston	MA		35
Speech/Presentation	4/18/2018	Michigan Safety Conference	Carole Franklin, Director of Standards Development, RIA	Safety in Collaborative Robotics	Lansing	MI	Safety & Health Programs	35
Speech/Presentation	4/25/2018	Lincoln-Electric Seminar	Carole Franklin, Director of Standards Development, RIA	Intro to Robotics Industry Standards	Cleveland	OH	Safety & Health Programs	50
Webinar	8/23/2018	RIA Webinar	Carole Franklin, Director of Standards Development, RIA	Robot Safety Standards Update	Online		Safety & Health Programs	500
TOTAL								2,064

Report prepared by: Christina Jones, Director, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, November 19, 2018.