Creating a Safety Culture in Your Organization at the International Robot Safety Conference

By Maureen Frost, Content Strategist, A3 - Association for Advancing Automation

Ready to enhance safety culture in your organization? Don't miss our robot safety conference, where you'll gain actionable strategies, practical tips, and invaluable connections to drive meaningful change.

Where robots exist in the workplace, robot safety is of the utmost importance. Because human lives and limbs depend on it, creating a safety culture within your organization should be a top priority. Attending the International Robot Safety Conference (IRSC) in Houston, Texas November 3-5, 2025 will empower your team with the knowledge they need to stay safe around robots. While there, you and your team will gain practical strategies, expert guidance, and industry-leading insights to enhance safety practices in your facility. 

What is the International Robot Safety Conference?

Each year, the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) gathers together over 40 safety professionals and regulatory officials to speak on the latest safety techniques and requirements for robot applications. Over three days, attendees will receive in-depth education on safety standards and risk assessment and gain crucial guidance for maintaining a safe facility. There are also numerous opportunities to connect with the leading robotics companies in attendance, view the latest robotics exhibits, and network with industry professionals.

Why Should You Attend IRSC?

A work culture that champions safety takes leadership commitment, employee engagement, regular auditing and training, a deep understanding of risk and safe operations, and beyond. Whether you work hands-on with robots or in upper management, the International Robot Safety Conference is the best place to strengthen your mission of worker safety. 

“IRSC is really a great opportunity to get together with other people who prioritize safety, specifically safety of workers around industrial robots,” says Carole Franklin, A3 director of Robotics Standards Development. “The whole atmosphere is completely focused on safety. Soaking in that atmosphere for three days is just very encouraging for people to bring that safety mindset back to their workplace.”

Most valuable of all — attendees have the opportunity to participate in in-depth conversations and lively Q&A sessions with experts in robotics as well as the creators of the various robotic safety standards, like recently updated ANSI/A3 R15.06 and ISO 10218-1,2, themselves. "One big plus of going to IRSC in person is, you can talk with the speakers at mealtimes and break times. You can talk with your fellow attendees. It helps the learning stick,” says Franklin. “Plus, there's the time when we break to visit exhibits. You can see examples first-hand of some of the things the speakers have been saying."

What You Can Expect from This Year’s Event

Deep Dive into the Updates to ISO 10218 (R15.06)

On Tuesday, hear Roberta Nelson Shea, the global technical compliance officer for Universal Robots on what the new ISO 10218 (R15.06) means for robot safety. A recent article from A3's Brian Heater on the newly approved standards discusses some of the updates to key nomenclature within the industry as far as safety is concerned. “The revised standard includes some key language updates designed both to adapt to changing technologies and to rethink manufacturer and user relationships with these technologies,”  The first is “Collaborative Robot” or “Cobot.”

Get a Front Row Seat to Sessions on Physical AI & Robot Safety, Cybersecurity, Humanoids, and More

The agenda is packed with timely topics to position your company for success in a rapidly changing environment. With sessions like “Physical AI & Robot Safety: Standardization Landscape & Use Cases” from Riccardo Mariani of NVIDIA and “Software Security in Robotics: Aligning with the EU Cyber Resilience Act” from Marcellus Buchheit of Wibu-Systems USA, attendees will gain crucial information on safe practices in the modern factory.

Learn the Essentials of Robot Safety and Risk Assessment from the Experts

At the core of IRSC is a lineup of comprehensive sessions meant to solidify your understanding of robot safety. With sessions on compliance and risk assessment and tracks covering mobile, service, and collaborative robots, the immersive learning opportunities are unparalleled. And even if you’ve attended before, there’s always relevant updates to learn about. 

“Going to IRSC keeps you up to date on the latest developments,” says Franklin. “You know, these standards are updated every few years, and not just the robot safety standards themselves, but the reference standards that our standards rely on. Every year there's something new, and safety professionals, safety engineers, need to keep current. IRSC helps you do that."