Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesCH95
When we test our robot on the floor (which is about the only way to evaluate certain performance changes) we establish what we call the 'kill radius.' This terms stems from my experience using axes/mauls/chain-saws - the radius around an operation where a bystander could be hurt. We spread team members around this 'kill radius' to keep people away from our robot when it's being run. This is a practice that has earned us compliments from various safety officials.
In addition to establishing a kill radius around the robot we put one person on the controls whose sole job is to mash the disable button if anything goes wrong. To avoid confusion only one person is ever allowed to issue verbal commands to the drivers, with the exception of "STOP" which everyone is allowed to say.
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I like these policies.
(Although, again, our pit was standing room only for the robot and the couple of people working on it, I can't imagine having enough room for the robot and a kill radius AND people standing around a perimeter - not without going into the alley!)
Again, I would support the ability to be flexible but if a team loses control and someone gets hurt because they were not following safe practices, I would want to see that team get appropriate training and reprimanding. I don't necessarily want to see all punitive actions but that should be a step along the way if a team is being egregriously unsafe despite attempts to train and warn them.
My first retail job was at a Canadian Tire and I still remember what my boss said on day 1. He said that if you do it wrong, there are three possible reasons. (1) You didn't know, which isn't necessarily your fault if you weren't taught. (2) You forgot, which is forgivable once or twice. Beyond that, it's (3) You don't care [enough].