OHS releases guide for safe operation of industrial robots

The book “Fundamentals and Practices for Safe and Secure Operation of Industrial Robots,” co-authored by Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, was published by Üsküdar University Publications. The work, which addresses current developments in industrial robot safety and the ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2 standards updated in 2025, met readers in Turkish and English. At the time of the book’s publication, Üsküdar University also hosted the first international working meeting on robot safety standardization ever held in Türkiye, thus bringing together its academic work in this field with international standard development processes.

The Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, in addition to its education and research activities in occupational health and safety, also continues its academic work on the safe use of evolving technologies. 

As a reflection of these studies, the book titled “Endüstriyel Robotlarda Emniyetli ve Güvenli Çalışmaya İlişkin Esaslar ve Uygulamalar / Fundamentals and Practices for Safe Operation of Industrial Robots,” prepared by Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan, Ali Orhan Karacığan and Erhan Eskicumalı, was published by Üsküdar University Publications.

Current resource focusing on robot safety in the field of OHS…

In the book, which addresses developments related to safe working in industrial robots from the 1960s to the present, the principles for the safe use of robot technologies, which have become more widespread in working life with digitalization and Industry 4.0, are evaluated.

It is noted that especially with collaborative robots, along with classic industrial robots, their increasingly intensive use in different sectors such as health, food, automotive, and metal has made the issue of safety in human-robot interaction more important.

The book was prepared by updating and re-evaluating the work previously published under the title “Occupational Safety Approach in Collaborative Industrial Robots.” The work, whose first edition was published in Turkish by Efe Akademi in February 2021 and its second edition by İKSAD Publishing House in March 2022, expanded its scope in its new edition in line with current developments and applications.

Current standards incorporated into the book

In the academic work of Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, occupational health and safety, machine safety, reliability engineering, and the safe use of new technologies hold an important place. Within the scope of Uçan’s academic activities at Üsküdar University, postgraduate thesis studies titled “Occupational Safety and Risk Analysis Approaches in Collaborative Industrial Robots” are also being conducted. 

In the new book, in line with this academic accumulation, current developments regarding industrial robot safety are included. Specifically, updates made within the scope of the new versions of ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2 standards published in 2025 are discussed in the new section added to the work.

In the preface of the book, it is emphasized that for a correct understanding of developments in industrial robot safety, the changes standards have undergone from past to present must also be known. In this context, a general overview of the main topics of the 2025 revisions is provided.

Published in Turkish and English

The book was prepared as a current and practice-oriented resource for occupational health and safety professionals, engineers, and researchers working in the field of industrial robot safety.

In this edition of the work, an English translation was included for the first time. Thus, the book offers content on safe working with industrial robots in both Turkish and English.

The English translation of the book was carried out by Ceren Uçan and Dr. Nafiseh Farajirad.

Access to OHS publications via QR code

One of the notable features of the book is that it offers access to the online versions of related works published in the field of occupational health and safety via QR codes.

Through the QR codes located at the end of the book, online versions of publications related to the field can be accessed. Thus, in addition to being a printed resource, the work serves as an integrated reference source where readers can also access digital resources.

Üsküdar University had hosted robot safety standardization studies

The Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, in addition to its academic work on robot safety discussed in the book, also contributes to international standardization efforts. At the international working meeting held at Üsküdar University, studies were carried out on the ISO/WD 26058-1 – Safety Requirements for Industrial Mobile Robots standard, prepared under ISO/TC 299 – WG 14. At the meeting, which was the first of its kind in Türkiye in the field of robot safety standardization, over 30 experts from 11 countries gathered. 
The meeting was held at Üsküdar University within the scope of studies conducted by Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department, and Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur, Deputy Director of the Institute of Health Sciences, in the fields of occupational health and safety, machine safety, and the safe use of new technologies. During the meetings, risks that may arise from industrial mobile robots sharing the same working area with employees and the requirements for controlling these risks through design and safety measures were discussed. 

International studies in machine and robot safety meet at Üsküdar

Üsküdar University hosted two international standardization meetings held in Türkiye in the field of machine and robot safety in 2026. While studies were carried out for the development of the prEN 50742 standard at the first meeting held in April, the ISO/WD 26058-1 standard for the safe use of industrial mobile robots was worked on at the second meeting held in August-September.
These studies demonstrate that the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Health Sciences, is directly linked not only to its education and research activities, but also to machine safety, robot safety, and the processes of developing international standards.

The book was also presented to Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör

Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan presented the book to Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör in her office. During the meeting, the academic work carried out in the field of occupational health and safety, developments regarding the safe use of industrial robots, and Üsküdar University’s contributions to international standardization efforts in this area were evaluated.

The 10th work from Üsküdar University Press in OHS!

“Fundamentals and Practices for Safe and Secure Operation of Industrial Robots” is the 10th work published by Üsküdar University Publications.

The book, prepared by Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan, Ali Orhan Karacığan, and Erhan Eskicumalı, brings together developments from past to present, current standards, and applications regarding the safe use of industrial robots. The work, published in Turkish and English, aims to be a reference source for professionals working in occupational health and safety, as well as engineers, academics, researchers, and industry professionals working with robot technologies.