The Dangers and Benefits of Virtual Reality Safety Training

Mar 29, 20235 min read

VR safety training is a unique way to teach workers about workplace health and safety. Companies like Porsche have developed VR safety training that features a narrated exhibit and an interactive quiz.

Their VR training is also available as a non-VR web browser delivery that makes it easy to distribute throughout the entire Porsche enterprise. Another company, Henkel, has developed VR workplace health and safety training that presents real-world environments and challenges learners to identify hazards. The combination of immersion and interactive features makes VR training particularly effective.

Benefits

Many organisations use VR for safety training, and for good reason: It gives trainees a realistic experience without exposing them to real-world hazards. However, there are certain risks associated with VR training. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the dangers and the benefits of VR safety training. Biomedical engineer Jennica Bellanca explains some of the risks of VR training. She says that when your body interacts with a virtual world, you experience “presence.” Because VR training takes place in a controlled environment, it can help employees deal with potentially dangerous attitudes and situations in the real world. In addition to learning about the risks, students can experience what it would be like to be in those situations, and how to handle certain scenarious. This can help prevent workplace accidents and improve employee safety. As VR hardware becomes more affordable, it will become even easier for employers to implement VR safety training.

Drawbacks

A few drawbacks of VR safety training have already been noted. For example. Some organisations may not find it effective for their particular training needs, such as those requiring advanced training in certain situations. Whereas others may find it of a significant benefit such as a blended approache to traditional classroom training. Another drawback to VR safety training is that it is more expensive than traditional methods of instruction. Some companies may be hesitant to abandon traditional training methods in favor of VR, but it does have huge benefits, so this decision should be a measured one. For example, one recent study of students found that training using VR resulted in higher test scores across the board. Meanwhile, other studies that are centred around vocational training such as how to spray paint, or how to maintain car engines, demonstrated that people who undertake VR training performed better at that vocation – in a test environment – than those who do not.

Obstacles

VR and AR training are transforming the way workers train on safety issues, making it easier for them to learn in a safe environment. With this new technology, companies can create unlimited scenarios, using internal and external factors to expand the scope of safety training. While VR and AR applications can create a safe environment, obstacles may prevent people from learning in the correct way. Here are some examples of obstacles that may be encountered during safety training. Long-term impact of VR training is not known. The effectiveness of VR safety training is best studied in short training sessions. It can supplement traditional classroom training and hands-on training. However, some studies revealed that Virtual Reality Safety Training is not appropriate for all training needs.

Use cases

Virtual reality (VR) technology can be used to provide safety training to employees working in dangerous environments. Because such work places involve a lot of risk and require specialised protective gear, these workers must be alert and vigilant. VR training can help these workers develop this awareness by providing them with opportunities to practice their safety skills in a safe virtual environment. Using this technology, BP has made working on drilling rigs safer. VR training is becoming more widely implemented by more companies and industries due to its many benefits. Companies like Avatour use VR training to train workers in the nuances of the workplace and provide a more engaging experience than conventional training. Industries such as the AEC can use VR to help their workers understand the hazards of working at dangerous construction sites. Other industries that benefit from VR training include manufacturing, which must identify and comply with OSHA protocols in order to protect their workers. Finally, the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries can use VR to provide training to workers and keep them safe.