In an interview with Automation World, Jonathan B. Johnson, principal application engineer at Rockwell Automation, noted that the ISO 10218 series for industrial robots (part 1) and industrial robot applications and robot cells (part 2) for industrial robots are the key robot safety standards manufacturers should follow.
“These international standards have been adopted by several national standards and regulatory bodies, such ANSI and CSA — ANSI/RIA R15.06, which is a U.S. adoption of the ISO 10218 international standard, and CAN/CSA- Z434-14, which is a Canadian adoption of the ISO 10218 international standard,” he said. “The standard is also approved for citation in the EUOJ (Official Journal of the European Union). As a type-C standard, this confers presumption of conformity to the Machinery Directive in Europe.”
See links below to access the “Securing Safe Robotic Workplaces” article for more robot safety insights from Johnson as well as Alex Greenberg and Eddy Finaro of Siemens.
The ISO 10218 series has now been revised and published by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). This marks the first major revision of the standards since 2011. The new ISO 10218 Parts 1 and 2 feature extensive updates that focus on making functional safety requirements more explicit rather than implied. This shift enhances clarity and usability, making compliance more straightforward for manufacturers and system integrators.
According to A3, key updates to ISO 10218 (2025) include:
- Clarified functional safety requirements that offer more precise safety guidelines to enhance compliance and risk mitigation.
- Integrated safety requirements for collaborative robot applications that consolidates the previously separate ISO/TS 15066.
- Incorporated safety guidance for manual load/unload procedures and end- effectors (sometimes called end-of-arm tooling or EOAT) from previously separate technical reports (TR 20218-1 and TR 20218-2).
- New robot classifications with corresponding functional safety requirements and test methodologies.
- Cybersecurity requirements pertaining to industrial robot safety.
“These updates bring much-needed clarity and structure, making it easier for companies to integrate robotics with confidence,” said Roberta Nelson Shea, global technical compliance officer at Universal Robots and convenor of ISO TC 299 Working Group 3. “Our goal has always been to ensure that innovation and safety go hand in hand. These newly revised standards deliver on that promise."
The 2025 edition of ISO 10218 is now available for purchase to U.S. customers through A3.
More robot and industrial machinery safety coverage from Automation World:
