A 24 year old worker employed with SKH Metals, an auto ancillary company at IMT Manesar was killed by a robot on Wednesday, a leading daily reports.
Ramji Lal, a resident of Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh had been working as a loader in the company for one and half years. During the shift, there were apparently 63 workers and 39 robots working. A co-worker of Lal said "The robot is pre-programmed to weld the metal sheets lifted by it. During production, a metal sheet got dislocated and Ramji Lal reached from behind the robot to adjust it. However, the pre-programmed robot pierced Lal's abdomen with welding sticks." Another co-worker told the daily that the victim had gone too close to the robot and got pierced by the robotic arm leading to him dying on the spot. "We are looking at CCTV footage and gathering information from workers and the company," a police official told the daily.
The worker union though is blaming the management for this unfortunate accident. Kuldeep Jhangu, general secretary of Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union alleged that no initiative has been taken to make the robots accident proof. He demanded compensation for Lal's family and a thorough probe into the entire incident.
Police have already booked the company management and contractor with charges of causing death due to negligence.