Robot Attacks Man in Sweden

I couldn't resist not sharing this story, its too funny on so many levels.

This is directly from "The Local," out of Sweden. All credit to the author.

Robot attacked Swedish factory worker

Published: 28 Apr 09 10:12 CET

A Swedish company has been fined 25,000 kronor ($3,000) after a malfunctioning robot attacked and almost killed one of its workers at a factory north of Stockholm.

The incident took place in June 2007 at a factory in Bålsta, north of Stockholm, when the industrial worker was trying to carry out maintenance on a defective machine generally used to lift heavy rocks. Thinking he had cut off the power supply, the man approached the robot with no sense of trepidation.

But the robot suddenly came to life and grabbed a tight hold of the victim's head. The man succeeded in defending himself but not before suffering serious injuries.

"The man was very lucky. He broke four ribs and came close to losing his life," said Leif Johansson.

Prosecutor Johansson chastised the company for its inadequate safety procedures but he also placed part of the blame on the injured worker.

What can I say? The story says it all. However, where was Al Gore during the event in question?? He was in Norway getting the Nobel Prize in 2007, so he had the opportunity, but what would have been the motive....? Perhaps he misunderstood maintenance for horseplay and just didn't like being touched? I don't know...