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- New International Standard for Safe Operation of Service Robots Originating from Japan’s Proposal Issued
New International Standard for Safe Operation of Service Robots Originating from Japan’s Proposal Issued
Efforts for the safe and secure use of service robots to overcome labor shortages (ISO 31101)
November 13, 2023
Services industry has started the proactive introduction of service robots to overcome labor shortages. To foster the widespread use of such robots, the essential precondition is to develop rules not only for their safe operation but also to secure their coexistence with people.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) hereby announces that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has officially issued a new international standard developed under the leadership of Japan for managing the safe operation of service robots. This standard is expected to contribute to promoting the introduction of highly safe robot services to overcome labor shortages.
1. Background
In recent years, Japan has been facing a challenge in the form of labor shortages against the backdrop of an aging society with fewer children. To overcome this challenge, industries have started the introduction of service robots. Service robots are used for food delivery in restaurants, floor cleaning, security, as well as information guidance at train stations, airports, and other facilities. In addition, service robots are also used for nursing care and goods delivery in nursing, medical, and other facilities. Unlike industrial robots used in factories and other industrial sites, service robots are used in public spaces. Accordingly, services industry needs to secure the safety of service robots to enable them to coexist with people without harming them.
To this end, Japan executed leadership in advancing the development of a new international standard for managing the safe operation of service robots, and the ISO officially issued the standard on November 10, 2023.


2. Outline of the international standard
While some international standards have stipulated safety requirements targeting service robot manufacturers, there was no international standard for the safe operation of service robots targeting businesses that make use of such robots. This new standard provides the basic requirements for managing the safe operation of service robots that providers should satisfy. In particular, as a key point, the standard highlights approaches to ensuring the safety of service robots for the vast number of people who do not have sufficient knowledge of such robots.
Specifically, the standard stipulates the requirements that service providers should carry out, including: identifying hazardous events involving robot services (e.g., robots colliding with people) and expected causes (e.g., worn brakes and inadequate maintenance and inspections), risk assessment to avoid such events, the implementation of educational and training programs for employees, and the assessment and improvement of robots’ performance.
Examples of requirements and recommendations stipulated in the new standard:
- Engagement of the top management of an organization
- Efforts for risk assessment and measures for risk reduction that service providers should take
- Provision of resources necessary for establishing and conducting safety management
- Planning and control in operating services
- Communication with people who receive these services
- Performance evaluation and continual improvement
3. Expected effects
The newly issued international standard is expected not only to ensure the safety of robot services, thereby facilitating their widespread adoption and helping industries overcome labor shortages, but also to greatly contribute to encouraging people worldwide to use robot services originating from Japan and high-safety robots developed in Japan.
Related Link
- ISO Deliberations on Japan-Proposed Development of New International Standard for Safety Operation of Robot Services to Start
- ISO portal website for the standard
Divisions in Charge
Information on the international standard:
International Standardization Division, Industrial Science, Technology and Environment Policy Bureau
Information on the robot policy in general:
Robotics Policy Office, Industrial Machinery Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau