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Incident 2: Warehouse robot ruptures can of bear spray and injures workers

Description: Twenty-four Amazon workers in New Jersey were hospitalized after a robot punctured a can of bear repellent spray in a warehouse.

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Entities

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Alleged: Amazon developed and deployed an AI system, which harmed Warehouse Workers.

Incident Stats

Incident ID
2
Report Count
17
Incident Date
2018-12-05
Editors
Sean McGregor
Applied Taxonomies
CSETv0, CSETv1, GMF, MIT

CSETv1 Taxonomy Classifications

Taxonomy Details

Incident Number

The number of the incident in the AI Incident Database.
 

2

Special Interest Intangible Harm

An assessment of whether a special interest intangible harm occurred. This assessment does not consider the context of the intangible harm, if an AI was involved, or if there is characterizable class or subgroup of harmed entities. It is also not assessing if an intangible harm occurred. It is only asking if a special interest intangible harm occurred.
 

no

Date of Incident Year

The year in which the incident occurred. If there are multiple harms or occurrences of the incident, list the earliest. If a precise date is unavailable, but the available sources provide a basis for estimating the year, estimate. Otherwise, leave blank. Enter in the format of YYYY
 

2018

Date of Incident Month

The month in which the incident occurred. If there are multiple harms or occurrences of the incident, list the earliest. If a precise date is unavailable, but the available sources provide a basis for estimating the month, estimate. Otherwise, leave blank. Enter in the format of MM
 

12

Date of Incident Day

The day on which the incident occurred. If a precise date is unavailable, leave blank. Enter in the format of DD
 

05

Estimated Date

“Yes” if the data was estimated. “No” otherwise.
 

No

CSETv0 Taxonomy Classifications

Taxonomy Details

Problem Nature

Indicates which, if any, of the following types of AI failure describe the incident: "Specification," i.e. the system's behavior did not align with the true intentions of its designer, operator, etc; "Robustness," i.e. the system operated unsafely because of features or changes in its environment, or in the inputs the system received; "Assurance," i.e. the system could not be adequately monitored or controlled during operation.
 

Unknown/unclear

Physical System

Where relevant, indicates whether the AI system(s) was embedded into or tightly associated with specific types of hardware.
 

Unknown/unclear

Level of Autonomy

The degree to which the AI system(s) functions independently from human intervention. "High" means there is no human involved in the system action execution; "Medium" means the system generates a decision and a human oversees the resulting action; "low" means the system generates decision-support output and a human makes a decision and executes an action.
 

Unclear/unknown

Public Sector Deployment

"Yes" if the AI system(s) involved in the accident were being used by the public sector or for the administration of public goods (for example, public transportation). "No" if the system(s) were being used in the private sector or for commercial purposes (for example, a ride-sharing company), on the other.
 

No

Laws Implicated

Relevant laws under which entities involved in the incident may face legal liability as a result of the incident.
 

Workplace safety laws, OSHA regulations

Lives Lost

Were human lives lost as a result of the incident?
 

No

MIT Taxonomy Classifications

Machine-Classified
Taxonomy Details

Risk Subdomain

A further 23 subdomains create an accessible and understandable classification of hazards and harms associated with AI
 

7.3. Lack of capability or robustness

Risk Domain

The Domain Taxonomy of AI Risks classifies risks into seven AI risk domains: (1) Discrimination & toxicity, (2) Privacy & security, (3) Misinformation, (4) Malicious actors & misuse, (5) Human-computer interaction, (6) Socioeconomic & environmental harms, and (7) AI system safety, failures & limitations.
 
  1. AI system safety, failures, and limitations

Entity

Which, if any, entity is presented as the main cause of the risk
 

AI

Timing

The stage in the AI lifecycle at which the risk is presented as occurring
 

Post-deployment

Intent

Whether the risk is presented as occurring as an expected or unexpected outcome from pursuing a goal
 

Unintentional

Incident Reports

Reports Timeline

+2
Robot Punctures Bear Spray Can, More Than 50 People Sickened at New Jersey Amazon Warehouse, Town Says
+8
Amazon warehouse NJ accident shines light on company's safety record
+4
Amazon bear spray accident attributed to robot error
Amazon bear repellent accident sends 24 workers to the hospital
Robot Punctures Bear Spray Can, More Than 50 People Sickened at New Jersey Amazon Warehouse, Town Says

Robot Punctures Bear Spray Can, More Than 50 People Sickened at New Jersey Amazon Warehouse, Town Says

nbcphiladelphia.com

1 critical, 54 Amazon workers treated after bear repellent discharge in N.J. warehouse

1 critical, 54 Amazon workers treated after bear repellent discharge in N.J. warehouse

nj.com

Amazon warehouse NJ accident shines light on company's safety record

Amazon warehouse NJ accident shines light on company's safety record

usatoday.com

24 Amazon workers sent to hospital after robot accidentally unleashes bear spray

24 Amazon workers sent to hospital after robot accidentally unleashes bear spray

abcnews.go.com

Amazon warehouse bear spray incident leaves workers sickened in Robbinsville, N.J.

Amazon warehouse bear spray incident leaves workers sickened in Robbinsville, N.J.

washingtonpost.com

Amazon robot sets off bear repellant, putting 24 workers in hospital

Amazon robot sets off bear repellant, putting 24 workers in hospital

theguardian.com

Dozens of Amazon employees taken to hospital after robot unleashes bear spray

Dozens of Amazon employees taken to hospital after robot unleashes bear spray

independent.co.uk

24 Amazon Workers Hospitalized After Robot Punctures Bear Spray In Warehouse

24 Amazon Workers Hospitalized After Robot Punctures Bear Spray In Warehouse

motherboard.vice.com

Bear spray incident at NJ Amazon warehouse shines light on safety record

Bear spray incident at NJ Amazon warehouse shines light on safety record

app.com

Amazon Warehouse Bear Spray Accident Injures Dozens, One Critically

Amazon Warehouse Bear Spray Accident Injures Dozens, One Critically

popularmechanics.com

Robot's bear spray accident puts 24 Amazon workers in hospital

Robot's bear spray accident puts 24 Amazon workers in hospital

msn.com

Amazon bear spray accident attributed to robot error

Amazon bear spray accident attributed to robot error

tennessean.com

Amazon Has a History of Bear Repellent Accidents

Amazon Has a History of Bear Repellent Accidents

wired.com

OSHA investigates Amazon warehouse bear spray accident that left worker critical

OSHA investigates Amazon warehouse bear spray accident that left worker critical

nj.com

Amazon workers injured in bear spray accident

Amazon workers injured in bear spray accident

bbc.com

Amazon bear repellent accident this week wasn’t its first

Amazon bear repellent accident this week wasn’t its first

foxbusiness.com

Amazon bear repellent accident sends 24 workers to the hospital

Amazon bear repellent accident sends 24 workers to the hospital

digitaljournal.com

Robot Punctures Bear Spray Can, More Than 50 People Sickened at New Jersey Amazon Warehouse, Town Says
nbcphiladelphia.com · 2018

More than four dozen workers became sick Wednesday morning after a can of bear repellent was punctured by an automated machine. The Amazon warehouse in Robbinsville, New Jersey immediately evacuated everyone out of the affected areas.

What …

1 critical, 54 Amazon workers treated after bear repellent discharge in N.J. warehouse
nj.com · 2018

UPDATE: OSHA investigates Amazon warehouse bear spray accident that left worker critical

A worker at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey was in critical condition and another 54 required treatment after being exposed to bear repellent that di…

Amazon warehouse NJ accident shines light on company's safety record
usatoday.com · 2018

CLOSE At least 17 employees were sent to the hospital after a can of bear repellent fell off a shelf at an Amazon facility in Robbinsville. North Jersey Record

In this 2017 photo, an Amazon employee makes sure a box riding on a belt is not …

24 Amazon workers sent to hospital after robot accidentally unleashes bear spray
abcnews.go.com · 2018

Twenty-four Amazon workers in New Jersey have been hospitalized after a robot accidentally tore a can of bear repellent spray in a warehouse, officials said.

The two dozen workers were treated at five local hospitals, Robbinsville Township …

Amazon warehouse bear spray incident leaves workers sickened in Robbinsville, N.J.
washingtonpost.com · 2018

Amazon boxes are stacked for delivery in Manhattan. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Dozens of employees at a sprawling Amazon.com warehouse in New Jersey have been sickened after an aerosol can containing bear repellent was punctured, dispersing fumes…

Amazon robot sets off bear repellant, putting 24 workers in hospital
theguardian.com · 2018

Accident in New Jersey puts new focus on retailer’s warehouse working conditions

Twenty-four employees at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey were taken to hospital after a robot accidentally punctured a can of bear repellant.

The 255g can co…

Dozens of Amazon employees taken to hospital after robot unleashes bear spray
independent.co.uk · 2018

Dozens of Amazon workers have been taken to hospital after a robot tore a can of bear repellent spray, discharging fumes inside a warehouse.

Employees at Amazon’s Robbinsville Township warehouse reported trouble breathing and burning sensat…

24 Amazon Workers Hospitalized After Robot Punctures Bear Spray In Warehouse
motherboard.vice.com · 2018

Twenty-four workers in an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey were hospitalized on Wednesday morning after a robot punctured a can of bear spray.

One worker was in critical condition, ABC News reported, and 30 more were sickened and treated on t…

Bear spray incident at NJ Amazon warehouse shines light on safety record
app.com · 2018

CLOSE At least 17 employees were sent to the hospital after a can of bear repellent fell off a shelf at an Amazon facility in Robbinsville. North Jersey Record

In this 2017 photo, an Amazon employee makes sure a box riding on a belt is not …

Amazon Warehouse Bear Spray Accident Injures Dozens, One Critically
popularmechanics.com · 2018

Over 50 Amazon warehouse employees were sickened on Wednesday as an automated machine punctured a can of bear repellant. The accident has resulted in 24 employees being hospitalized, with one worker in such poor condition that they've been …

Robot's bear spray accident puts 24 Amazon workers in hospital
msn.com · 2018

The Amazon fulfilment center in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Twenty-four employees at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey were hospitalised after a robot accidentally set off a can of bear repellent.

A 255g can of repellent containing concentrat…

Amazon bear spray accident attributed to robot error
tennessean.com · 2018

CLOSE Authorities said 24 workers at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey were taken to the hospital after a can of bear repellent was punctured and released fumes Wednesday. At least one of the workers was in critical condition. (Dec. 5) AP

E…

Amazon Has a History of Bear Repellent Accidents
wired.com · 2018

Two dozen Amazon warehouse employees in New Jersey were hospitalized Wednesday, one in critical condition, after a robot punctured a can of bear repellent, according to local reports. The news was soon picked up by national outlets and spre…

OSHA investigates Amazon warehouse bear spray accident that left worker critical
nj.com · 2018

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating an accident involving a punctured bear repellent container at a New Jersey Amazon warehouse Wednesday that left one worker in critical condition and another 24 emplo…

Amazon workers injured in bear spray accident
bbc.com · 2018

Twenty-four Amazon workers have been hospitalised after a bear spray can was punctured at a warehouse in New Jersey in the US on Wednesday.

One of those hospitalised is in a critical condition. Another 30 people were treated by emergency se…

Amazon bear repellent accident this week wasn’t its first
foxbusiness.com · 2018

An accident involving bear repellent at an Amazon warehouse on Wednesday that left more than two dozen hospitalized in New Jersey made national headlines -- but according to a report from Wired, that wasn’t the company’s first mishap involv…

Amazon bear repellent accident sends 24 workers to the hospital
digitaljournal.com · 2018

On Wednesday this week 24 Amazon warehouse workers in Robbinsville New Jersey were hospitalized after a robot punctured a can of repellent according to local news reports. One employee is said to be in critical condition. The accident In al…

Variants

A "variant" is an incident that shares the same causative factors, produces similar harms, and involves the same intelligent systems as a known AI incident. Rather than index variants as entirely separate incidents, we list variations of incidents under the first similar incident submitted to the database. Unlike other submission types to the incident database, variants are not required to have reporting in evidence external to the Incident Database. Learn more from the research paper.

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