How is Virtual Reality Suitable and Crucial for Health, Safety and Environment training?

The Piper Alpha oil rig suffered a sequence of devastating explosions and fires on July 6, 1988. The rig was engulfed in a massive fireball, leading to catastrophic consequences. The tragic incident claimed the lives of 167 individuals.

One of the reasons stated by Lord Cullen for this catastrophic event is because of insufficient training in emergency response and evacuation procedures. This has (potentially) contributed to the high death toll among individuals in the accommodation section of the rig, which ultimately collapsed into the sea. If they had been provided with instructions to escape from the accommodation using any available means, the loss of life might have been significantly reduced.

Another Such incident is Industry Oven Explosion in the USA (2019). A large industrial oven used for baking bread products malfunctioned, leading to a buildup of flammable gas. One of the plausible reasons for the extent of the disruption being caused can be that some personnel were probably unfamiliar with the location and proper operation of emergency shut-off valves for the oven, hindering a timely response.

So what is likely to be a common factor in both of these incidents? Lack of proper Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Training?

But here is another challenge!

HSE training, while essential for promoting workplace safety, also presents its own set of hazards that must be addressed to ensure the well-being of participants. These hazards encompass a range of risks encountered throughout the training process. Physical hazards, such as slips, trips, and falls, may occur during practical exercises or within training facilities. Chemical hazards arise from exposure to substances used in demonstrations, potentially leading to health issues. Biological hazards pose a risk of infection from exposure to biological materials used for training purposes. Ergonomic hazards may result from prolonged sitting or poor posture during classroom sessions. Psychosocial hazards, such as stress from evaluations or information overload, can impact mental well-being.

Then how to navigate this challenging situation?

Orbit-Ed is the answer.

VR places trainees in realistic simulations of potentially hazardous work environments. By experiencing hazards firsthand (virtually), trainees gain a deeper understanding of potential risks and how to mitigate them. VR allows trainees to practise safe work procedures in a simulated environment without the risk of real-world accidents. Studies suggest that VR training can lead to higher knowledge retention.

Furthermore, VR simulations can potentially condense safety training sessions. A study revealed that utilizing VR for industrial training reduced training duration by 25%, concurrently enhancing performance in complex assembly tasks by 27.9%.¹ This efficiency can be valuable for busy workplaces where time constraints might limit traditional training sessions.

Another article studied the cost-effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) training compared to live exercises for training hospital staff in evacuation procedures. The study found that VR training has a higher upfront cost. However, the cost is spread out over the lifetime of the VR program. Live exercises, on the other hand, have a lower upfront cost, but the cost needs to be repeated every time the exercise is conducted.

The study concludes that VR training is less expensive than live exercise training over a three-year period.The study concluded that the cost per participant for VR training decreases over time, while the cost per participant for live exercises stays the same.²

Not only that, Orbit-Ed’s VR training solution provides valuable data and analytics on trainee performance. By analysing this data, organisations can identify areas where trainees struggle and tailor future training sessions to address those specific needs.

A pertinent scenario is currently underway with PepsiCo, involving the training of their factory workers to perform maintenance on their equipment in VR.

The need is substantial and so are the possibilities. Discover them with Orbit-Ed.

Sources:

Footnotes

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354358504 ↩

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7231540/ ↩