Tesla technician sues for $51mln after assembly-line robot knocks him unconscious
www.independent.co.uk
Exclusive: After being struck with ‘the force of an approximately 8,000-pound counterbalance weight,’ court filings say Peter Hinterdobler has already racked up $1 million in medical bills
  • wizzor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    10·
    15 days ago

    It’s slightly hard to understand how this sort of thing is so common. When I have been in factories with industrial robots, the things are inside enclosures.

    In this case the robot had been moved and was being maintained and struck the man when its motor was removed. It sounds like the arm was not properly secured and that the people carrying out the work were not properly trained for it.

    Don’t get me wrong, sounds like Tesla should be liable. The damages seem very high, but the US legal system is odd.

    • mos@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      15 days ago

      I think you nailed it with the lack of training. I bet there’s also an imperative to move as fast as possible with everything, which means rules and regulations aren’t the top concern.

    • jonne@infosec.pubEnglish
      2·
      15 days ago

      I mean, if you’re not trained for a dangerous task and your employer still requires you to do it, and you get hurt, there should definitely be consequences for that employer.