The Effect of Industrial Robots on Workplace Safety

Ling Li () and Perry Singleton
Additional contact information
Ling Li: University of Wisconsin-Parkside, https://www.uwp.edu/learn/instructorprofiles/facultystaffdetail.cfm?uid=ling

No 239, Center for Policy Research Working Papers from Center for Policy Research, Maxwell School, Syracuse University

Abstract: This study measures the effect of industrial robots on workplace safety at the commuting zone level, exploiting potentially exogenous variation in robot exposure due to technological progress. Workplace safety is measured by workers involved in severe or fatal accidents inspected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. From 2000 to 2007, we find that one additional robot in exposure per 1,000 workers decreased the OSHA accident rate at the mean by 15.1 percent. We also find that robot exposure decreased OSHA violations and accidents more likely to be affected by robot penetration, specifically those involving machinery or electrical.

Keywords: Industrial Robots; Automation; Workplace Safety; Occupational Safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 J81 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2021-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cwa, nep-hea, nep-lab, nep-ore and nep-tid
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:max:cprwps:239

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