Volkswagen announced on Wednesday the death of a 22-year-old external employee who was killed by a robot at a production plant in Baunatal , Germany . VW spokesman Heiko Hillwig said the robot grabbed the worker and crushed him against a metal plate.
The unfortunate young man succumbed to his injuries later the same day at a local hospital.
The company spokesman also stated that “the error was initially considered human error, adding that the victim had helped build the robot and was inside the safety cage that usually separates personnel from the robots that handle metal.” Another worker was present at the incident but as he was behind the barrier he was not in danger.
According to the Financial Times , “a Volkswagen spokesman stressed that the robot was not one of the new generation that works alongside workers without requiring a safety cage.”
The German newspaper HNA reports that robot was used in the manufacture of electric motors for the major car company, and the Financial Times noted, admittedly somewhat coldly, that the machine suffered no damage in the accident.
No further details have yet been provided by VW, due to the prosecutorial investigations that are still ongoing.
