ISO 31101:2023

Overview

ISO 31101:2023 - Robotics - Application services provided by service robots - Safety management systems requirements is an international standard developed by ISO to address the management of safety for application services delivered by service robots. This standard specifies the safety management systems requirements that application service providers must establish and maintain to ensure the safe operation of service robots in unstructured human environments, such as airports, shopping malls, hospitals, and restaurants. The scope includes both trained and untrained users and can be adapted for a wide range of organizations that wish to improve safety performance, assure compliance with safety policy, or demonstrate conformity with these international guidelines.

This standard is focused on system requirements for operational safety management rather than the product safety of the robots themselves. It promotes the integration of safety management for service robot applications into existing organizational processes, supporting compliance, continual improvement, and stakeholder confidence in service robot deployments.

Key Topics

ISO 31101:2023 covers several essential areas to guide organizations in managing the safety of service robotics application services:

• Context of the Organization: Understanding internal and external factors, including cultural, social, legal, and technological issues, that affect safety performance.
• Leadership and Commitment: Emphasizes the importance of leadership, safety policies, and defined roles and responsibilities.
• Planning and Risk Assessment:
  • Setting safety objectives and planning risk mitigation actions.
  • Conducting safety risk assessments, analyses, and evaluations specific to the service robot's application and operating context.
• Support and Competence:
  • Managing resources, developing personnel competence, raising awareness, and ensuring effective communication.
  • Maintaining thorough safety documentation and control of information.
• Operations:
  • Implementing operational controls, emergency procedures, and communication strategies.
  • Addressing third-party safety and hazardous event management in public or semi-public spaces.
• Performance Evaluation:
  • Monitoring, measuring, and evaluating safety performance.
  • Conducting internal audits and regular management reviews to ensure ongoing effectiveness.
• Improvement:
  • Processes for continual improvement, handling nonconformities, and implementing corrective actions to enhance safety.

Applications

ISO 31101:2023 is applicable to a broad range of service robot use-cases, including:

• Public guidance: Robots providing directions in airports, shopping malls, or large venues.
• Healthcare logistics: Robots carrying goods or medical supplies within hospitals.
• Hospitality and food service: Robots delivering meals to restaurant customers or guests in hotels.
• Other service environments: Any scenario where service robots interact with the public or staff in dynamic environments.

The standard helps organizations in these sectors:

• Establish safe procedures for introduction, operation, and lifecycle management of service robots.
• Ensure both users and third parties (those present in operational areas but not directly interacting with the robots) are protected from safety risks.
• Integrate safety management with other systems like quality or environmental management, increasing operational efficiency and compliance.

Related Standards

Implementers of ISO 31101:2023 will find the following standards relevant and complementary:

• ISO 13482:2014: Robots and robotic devices - Safety requirements for personal care robots (product safety for specific robot types)
• ISO 12100:2010: Safety of machinery - General principles for design - Risk assessment and risk reduction (generic risk management guidance)
• ISO/IEC Guide 51:2014: Safety aspects - Guidelines for their inclusion in standards

By aligning with ISO 31101:2023 and related standards, organizations can ensure comprehensive safety management for service robot applications, reduce risks, and build stakeholder trust in automated services deployed in human environments.

Keywords: ISO 31101, service robots, safety management systems, application service safety, robot safety requirements, public robot deployment, safety risk assessment, operational safety, robotics standards, continual improvement.