Point of operation hazards are usually a function of the robot end-effector.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

At the point of operation, the danger comes from what the tool at the end of the robot arm is doing to the workpiece. The end-effector is the actual tool or device performing the task—whether it’s a cutter, drill, punch, welder, gripper, or others—and the type of action it performs (cutting, pinching, crushing, welding, forming, etc.) largely determines the hazards present there. So the hazards you must guard against at the point of operation are defined by the end-effector’s function and the tool’s interaction with the workpiece and environment. While other factors like speed, reach, or guarding can influence overall risk, the nature of the point-of-operation hazard is driven by the end-effector.