Robot kills worker in Volkswagen car factory

A worker in a Volkswagen factory in Germany has died after being crushed to death by a robot. 

 

The 22-year-old man died in hospital after the accident at a plant in Baunatal, 100km north of Frankfurt, spokesman Heiko Hillwig confirmed last night.

 

He was working as part of a team of contractors installing the robot, which was stationary when it grabbed him and crushed him against a metal plate. Another contractor was there at the time when the accident happened, on Monday, but wasn't harmed.

 

Hillwig said the initial conclusion was that "human error" was to blame rather than the robot.

 

He said: "[The robot] can be programmed to perform various tasks in the assembly process. It normally operates within a confined area at the plant, grabbing auto parts and manipulating them."

 

He declined to give any more details about the case, which is currently being investigated. 

 

Prosecutors are still deciding whether to bring charges – and if so, who they should bring them against – according to German news agency DPA.