Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality For Hazardous Work Training
Executive Summary
Every year, lives are lost due to incidents that could have been prevented with proper training and awareness of workplace hazards (Zhao & Lucas, 2015). Between 2003 and 2011, construction workers accounted for 47.8% of all U.S. electrical fatalities, and over half of the relevant fatal or non-fatal incidents were ascribed to human errors (Zhao & Lucas, 2015). The objective of the Work to Zero initiative at NSC is to eliminate workplace fatalities through the use of technology. Out of the 18 top hazardous situations identified in the Work to Zero Safety Technology 2020 white paper, lack of training was earmarked as systemic risk in every scenario (NSC, 2020). Effective training programs are believed to be the most direct way to mitigate human errors, and firms are increasingly leveraging Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) training to reduce these situational risks (Zhao & Lucas, 2015; NSC, 2020). The intrinsic properties of VR offer an almost real-world experience in a harmless environment, allowing workers to train on potentially hazardous situations while remaining in the comfort and safety of a non-hazardous location. AR offers the ability to overlay correct procedures and real-time instructions onto hazardous tasks which can reduce risk and improve efficiency. Unlike VR, the AR interface does not interfere with the wearer’s perception of the working environment, making it particularly well-suited for on-the-job and real-time training. VR and AR technology has the greatest application potential for firms that rely heavily on comprehensive health and safety training. These firms sit in industries that primarily fall under OSHA’s general industry classification, work heavily with highly hazardous materials, use vehicles for goods transportation and services, or operate and work with heavy machinery and equipment (Verdantix, 2019). VR and AR training is found to be more effective than traditional classroom training programs and help improve knowledge recall and retention (Zhao & Lucas, 2015). Despite these benefits, demand for VR or AR for safety training is stymied by the high costs of the technology, cheaper market alternatives, and ergonomics challenges from Head Mounted Displays (HMD). The hardware and software for VR and AR for training are still in the launch phase of technological maturity. While they are not yet widespread workplace technologies, VR and AR for training represent promising business value and show strong potential to improve the effectiveness of training for hazardous work.
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