Experts Warn of Safety Risks as Humanoid Robots Enter Workplaces Amid Regulatory Gaps
As humanoid robots rapidly transition from laboratories to industrial production lines, concerns are mounting about their safe operation alongside human workers. A recent Wall Street Journal report highlights the main challenge for robotics companies: preventing injuries from machines that can weigh up to 90 kilograms. Several viral incidents in recent months have intensified these worries. For example, at an amusement park in Xinjiang, China, a humanoid robot performing martial arts accidentally kicked a child, who was not seriously injured but led to the show’s immediate halt. In another case, a service robot at a HaiDiLao restaurant in California moved uncontrollably, knocking over tables and throwing food toward diners. Although these events occurred outside industrial settings, they underscore the unpredictability of dynamic robots now being integrated into warehouses and production lines at companies like Tesla and Figure AI.
Safety engineers point to the "falling problem" as a critical hazard. Unlike fixed robotic arms anchored to the floor, humanoid robots rely on constant balance. Software glitches or power outages could cause them to lose stability and fall, potentially crushing nearby workers. Safety engineering expert Michelle Silva warned, "If such a robot falls, it could simply crush a person." Meanwhile, regulatory bodies struggle to keep pace. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has only recently begun developing the first dedicated standard for dynamic and humanoid robots, ISO 25785-1, expected to take effect around 2028. Until then, companies must rely on existing guidelines that do not fully address the new technology’s risks.
This gap between rapid innovation and lagging safety regulations raises serious questions about market readiness for widespread humanoid robot adoption. Experts stress that without advanced safety solutions and clear standards, the risk to workers could become a major obstacle to the robotic revolution.
