For many firms across the UK, workplace safety is a top responsibility. Yet, depending on the nature of the position, some businesses find it more difficult to ensure trainee safety.
A worker primarily based in an office, for instance, would be thought to be at lower risk of damage, whereas someone running heavy equipment, handling hazardous materials, or performing life-threatening medical procedures might not have the opportunity to try again.
As depressing as that may sound, it is true. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 142 work-related fatal injuries were reported in the UK in 2021, with 20 of those accidents occurring in manufacturing and 39 in the construction sector.
It demonstrates how hazardous some workplaces may be and raises the topic of what measures may be taken to safeguard trainees who are about to begin a career in potentially lethal working settings.
As you probably already know, virtual reality (VR) has played a significant role in how employers arrange training programs as more and more companies become aware of its potential and accessibility
Only when we aren't scared of the big "what if?" and embrace the moonshot thinking required to work in VR will we be able to help move this medium forward to its full potential.
In addition to being able to perform simulations for any business, it provides a 3D immersive platform so that workers from anywhere in the globe can learn industry-specific skills in a risk-free environment.
VR has demonstrated to heighten engagement, increase memory retention, and deliver better results across numerous industries, whether it’s operating heavy machinery, learning to fly an aircraft, or possibly developing ground-breaking technologies. On that, however, later.
Advantages of virtual reality for safety training
The use of VR in safety training has many advantages. The trainees are not only spared any chance of harm, but they are also given access to an immersive learning platform that they may have never used before.
It implies that participant involvement will likely be considerably higher right away, which opens the door for better engagement and deeper learning, where information retention is much more likely.
In fact, according to PwC’s “Seeing is Believing” report, VR learners finished their training four times quicker than those who learned the identical subject in a traditional setting. The same survey also mentions that students who used VR had a greater rate of knowledge retention.
Similarly, a research by the University of Maryland in 2018, Professor of Computer Science, Amitabh Varshey, said: “This evidence is fascinating in that it shows that immersive environments could offer new avenues for enhanced outcomes in education and high-proficiency training”.
A 2016 study involving Chinese high school students discovered that adding VR learning to the curriculum increased exam results and memory recall.
The accessibility of VR in training may be one factor in its success. Because VR can be accessible from anywhere in the globe by putting on a headset, it is preferable to the hassle of gathering resources and wasting time travelling to specialised training facilities.
It implies that students can study anything from performing heart surgery to running large machinery comfortably.
It’s a solution that benefits both employers and employees.
We are yet to see a person who has experienced virtual reality and emerged unconvinced.
Also, utilising VR for safety training eliminates any dangers or side effects you would associate with conventional teaching techniques.
As a result, students pay closer attention to training modules since they feel more secure knowing they are in a secure setting. Real-world situations but without real-world repercussions.
But in addition to the protection and safety it provides, virtual reality also exceeds computer-based learning in terms of memory retention.
That’s because using VR requires learners to make real-world motions, as opposed to the largely static action of using a mouse and keyboard, which in turn makes use of embodied cognition.
Researchers have a phrase for the idea that practising processes as you would in your work will help you learn them more effectively.
Before continuing , It’s important to note that everyone has unique learning preferences. And even while VR has the ability to satisfy any requirement in a secure setting, there are still advantages to creating a mixed learning program that combines VR and conventional methods .
It largely depends on the requirements of your students.
Safety and VR training implementation factors for employers
There’s no denying that VR offers a great deal of promise to speed up the expansion of your company. By providing a virtual learning platform that is entertaining, secure, and effective, you’ll not only enjoy a decrease in training costs but also leave a lasting impact on your staff.
Yet there are a few things you need to think about before you decide to use VR at work.
How will you initially implement the new technology to meet the needs?
Determine which parts of your training will benefit most from virtual reality by following our guidance. For instance, if your industry is inherently risky, VR can be used to make a safer learning environment where trainees can practise using equipment and machines without running the risk of getting hurt.
Do you run your company from several outlying locations, secondly? If so, employing a headset and VR technology, you may enable colleagues to collaborate across distances on given modules.
The use of VR in other industries to boost productivity and performance is something else to take into account.
What are they doing that is breaking the rules? How are they making the most of their employees?
You might possibly use some of the same tactics. It takes some thought to suddenly include VR into your training regimen, of course. The idea of learning through VR could be intimidating to some employees, especially those who are not frequent technology users.
Conclusion.
Workplace safety training in various industries is changing as a result of virtual reality. Because VR provides a platform where students may learn without running the risk of getting hurt, unlike the possible risks associated with in-situ learning.
Virtual reality (VR) can be created for every part of work-related training, regardless of the industry. The options are unlimited, whether it’s to perfect cardiac surgery, participate in a battle zone exercise, or carry out scientific study. Unlike binary. Combining VR and practical training can benefit your staff in the best possible way.