Robot kills man in Germany-prosecutors to bring charges, and if so, against whom?

Robot kills man at Volkswagen plant in Germany

Date

July 2, 2015 - 12:09PM

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Robots put together a car at a Toyota factory in Australia. Photo: Paul Rovere

A 22-year-old contractor has been killed at a Volkswagen factor in Germany after a stationary robot he was helping to set up grabbed and crushed him to death against a metal plate.
VW spokesman Heiko Hillwig confirmed the man died on Monday at the plant in Baunatal, about 100 kilometres north of Frankfurt.
He said initial conclusions indicate that human error was to blame, rather than a problem with the robot, which can be programmed to perform various tasks in the assembly process.
He said it normally operates within a confined area at the plant, grabbing car parts and manipulating them.
Another contractor was present when the incident occurred, but wasn't harmed, Hillwig said.
Hillwig declined to give any more details, citing an ongoing investigation.
The Financial Times said the worker was hit in the chest by the machinery and pressed against a metal plate while standing inside the safety cage that contains the automated equipment.
It said prosecutors were investigating.
German news agency dpa reported that prosecutors were considering whether to bring charges, and if so, against whom.