[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]In a tragic incident at a pepper sorting plant in South Gyeongsang province, South Korea, an employee of a robotics company lost his life when a malfunctioning robot mistakenly identified him as a box of vegetables.
The man, in his 40s, was conducting late-night inspections of the robot’s sensor operations when the fatal accident occurred.
The question arises: was it human error or a technical glitch?
According to reports from the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the robotic arm responsible for lifting pepper boxes and placing them onto pallets confused the man for a box of vegetables. This error resulted in the man being grabbed and pushed against the conveyor belt, causing fatal injuries to his face and chest. Despite immediate medical attention, the man succumbed to his injuries.
The incident occurred just days before the scheduled test run of the robot at the pepper sorting plant, originally planned for November 6 but delayed by two days due to sensor issues.
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The victim, an employee of the company that manufactured the robotic arm, was checking the machine as part of pre-test preparations.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, authorities are launching an investigation into safety measures at the plant. Concerns are being raised about possible negligence in duties, with the police focusing on the safety managers at the site.
This marks the second fatal incident involving a robot in South Korea this year, emphasizing the urgent need for a secure and robust system in the integration of humans and robotics.
The Donggoseong Export Agricultural Complex, which owns the plant, released a statement expressing condolences and urging the establishment of a “precise and safe” system to prevent such incidents in the future.
This unfortunate event follows a similar case in March, where a South Korean man in his 50s suffered serious injuries after being trapped by a robot at an automobile parts manufacturing plant.
These repeated incidents are heightening concerns about safety protocols and regulations governing human-robot interactions. With the increasing prevalence of robots in various industries, there is a growing recognition of the need for stringent safety measures and comprehensive training programs to mitigate the associated risks.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
