ABB announces new robot safety training workshop

ABB has announced a new series of training workshops that highlight safety considerations for robotic production systems. ABB’s one-day workshops are free of charge and designed to satisfy the needs of manufacturers to understand and comply with robot and machine safety standards in order to keep their workplace safe and productive.

The first workshop will take place in Adelaide on 22 June 2009 with dates for Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to be announced soon.

The workshops are an opportunity for manufacturers to receive training in the implementation and continual development of safety systems in automated environments. In particular, the following areas will be covered:

• Identification of primary legislative requirements and sources of information (codes and standards)
• Identification of hazards and control solutions
• Understanding of risk assessment methodologies and execution of the risk assessment
• Understanding the principles in the selection of categories of safety-related parts of control systems required in AS 4024.1-2006, EN 954.1 and other risk management practices
• Implementation of the new AS4024 3001 compliant safety options available for ABB robots

Attendees will gain their understanding through detailed presentations and workshop exercises conducted by Roger Lim, a robotics specialist . Lim is an electrical engineer with a postgraduate qualification in robotics, and accredited as a Designated Conformity Assessment Body for compliance with EU Machinery Directive 98/37/EC and AS 4024 Safeguarding of Machinery.

“With manufacturers responding to the call to improve their productivity by adopting automation technology, there is an increasing number of people working in production facilities that contain robotic equipment,” explains Paul Gekas, ABB robotics general manager. "The 2009 Safety Training Workshop series highlights ABB’s commitment to providing practical support for those companies interested in industrial safety throughout Australia.”

The workshops are aimed at technical directors, manufacturing managers, production managers, technical specialists, engineers and those responsible for planning, designing and implementing robot-based automation systems. They are also suitable for those who are responsible for maintaining a safe workplace where robot-based automation systems exist.

The initial workshop will be held in Adelaide, at the Technology Park Conference Centre, Innovation House, Mawson Lakes, on Monday 22 June, starting at 8.45 am.

The full series will be published at www.processonline.com.au/calendar_events when they are available.

Registration is available online at www.abbaustralia.com.au/events or by phoning Trish Noonan (03) 8544 0144.