Lucy and the Chocolate Factory: Warehouse Robotics and Worker Safety

Gordon Burtch, Brad Greenwood and Kiron Ravindran

ILR Review, 2025, vol. 78, issue 4, 587-613

Abstract: The authors examine the implications of robotics for warehouse worker safety. While warehouse automation has the potential to reduce injuries by eliminating high-risk tasks, it may also increase injuries among remaining non-automated tasks because of reduced task variety and an accelerated pace of work. Findings provide evidence of both effects: Warehouse robotics are associated with a 40% decrease in severe injuries but a 77% increase in non-severe injuries. The authors provide subsequent evidence that the rise in non-severe injuries is at least partially attributable to the increased pace of work at robotics facilities. The implications of the findings for regulators, policymakers, workers, and firms are discussed.

Keywords: robotics; automation; worker safety; logistics; fulfillment; warehousing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:78:y:2025:i:4:p:587-613

DOI: 10.1177/00197939251333754

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