Robotics Sourcing Beacon

End effector

The end effector is the tool at the wrist of the robot arm, also called end-of-arm tooling, and it is a distinct part of the industrial robot system

Official source: OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) - Section IV: Chapter 4 — Industrial Robots and Robot System Safety →

rather than of the robot itself. The same arm is commonly fitted with different end effectors according to the application, and the catalogue spans grippers, pickers, welding torches, cutting and trimming tools, material removal and drilling tools, adhesive dispensers, cameras, inspection equipment and collision or force-torque sensors. Hundreds are on the market. They are also a hazard in their own right: released parts, gripper failure and power-tool breakdown are named as mechanical-failure hazards for workers.

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  1. OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) - Section IV: Chapter 4 — Industrial Robots and Robot System Safetyverified · 2026-08-04 · agent:verification