This article was written by Jake Hiltz, Product Manager, Warehouse Automation. Jake has a diverse 25 year career including management of application engineering, customer support, and software development in factory automation, software startups, and robotics.

For decades, robots have been hailed as the future of tackling “dull, dirty, and dangerous” jobs, promising to revolutionize how we approach tasks that are both repetitive and hazardous. We’ve seen this promise realized in manufacturing facilities across the globe, where robots adeptly handle intricate jobs like deburring, painting, and polishing—tasks that demand precision but can pose risks to human workers.

Yet, for all this progress, there’s one job that stands out for its sheer physical toll and difficulty: unloading shipping containers in warehouses. Imagine the grueling routine: you’re inside a steel box where the air is thick with stagnant summer heat or pierced by the biting cold of winter. Your entire day consists of reaching overhead or bending to lift heavy boxes, then twisting to place them on a conveyor, hour after hour. It’s a task that not only strains the body and heightens the risk of injury, but drains the spirit.

The Risks of Extreme Heat

It’s difficult to overstate the challenges of working in extreme heat. In 2022 a warehouse worker in Madrid died after fainting in what his colleagues estimated was 42.9° Celsius (109.2° F) heat. EU leaders this summer are being pressed to require businesses in general to allow staff to halt work when temperatures are considered dangerously high. In the U.S., California’s Occupational Health and Safety (Cal/OSHA) Standards Board has introduced rules to safeguard indoor workers from severe heat. And other concerns about the health of warehouse workers have translated into legislation aimed at protections for them, such as New York State’s Warehouse Worker Protection Act, which addresses working speed and the reduction of musculoskeletal injuries.

Automation to Support Warehouse Workers

Enter a new generation of robots, like Boston Dynamics’ Stretch®, designed not just to automate a task, but to elevate and improve human working conditions. By deploying these advanced robotic systems, we can liberate workers from the most backbreaking labor. This isn’t about replacing people; it’s about redefining their roles.

The transformation is profound. Instead of working long hours with strain on their bodies, workers can transition to supervising these robotic assets. Their deep, practical knowledge becomes more valuable than ever as they leverage their skills to manage the technology, optimize productivity, and ensure the workflow is safe and efficient. We are empowering workers to shift from manual labor to technology oversight. At sites where Stretch is deployed workers have done just that, pivoting from unloading by hand to starting up robots and monitoring their progress.

The impact of this evolution extends far beyond the factory walls. Imagine finishing the workday not physically exhausted and depleted, but invigorated and ready to enjoy quality time with family. Or being able to give more staff weekends off because automation like Stretch doesn’t mind working weekends. This shift promises a better work-life balance, enabling people to both excel at work and have the energy and time for life outside the job.

As we integrate robots like Stretch into the workforce, we’re not just advancing technology; we’re reshaping lives for the better. It’s about creating a future where work isn’t grueling or dangerous, but part of a more fulfilling life. Let’s embrace this evolution, where robots are not just machines, but enablers to our quest for a healthier, safer, and more balanced existence.