Robot grabs and kills worker at car factory in Germany

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Robot grabs and kills worker at car factory in Germany

Initial conclusions indicated 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.

PUBLISHED : Friday, 03 July, 2015, 1:05am
UPDATED : Friday, 03 July, 2015, 1:05am

Associated Press in Berlin

The 22-year-old was part of a team that was setting up the stationary robot when it grabbed and crushed him against a metal plate. Photo: Xinhua

A robot seized and killed a contractor at one of Volkswagen's production plants in Germany, the automaker said.

The man died on Monday at the plant in Baunatal, about 100km north of Frankfurt, VW spokesman Heiko Hillwig said.

The 22-year-old was part of a team that was setting up the stationary robot when it grabbed and crushed him against a metal plate, Hillwig said.

He said initial conclusions indicated 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 operated within a confined area at the plant, grabbing auto parts and manipulating them.

Another contractor was present when the incident occurred, but wasn't harmed, Hillwig said. He declined to give any more details about the case, citing an ongoing investigation.

German news agency dpa reported that prosecutors were considering whether to bring charges, and if so, against whom.