Citation

Stefan H, Mortimer M, Horan B, Kenny G. Safety Sci. 2023; 163: e106125.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ssci.2023.106125

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Safety training is an important factor in preventing and reducing work-related accidents. As workplaces look for ways to improve safety outcomes, increasing the effectiveness of safety training continues to be an important factor. Interest in virtual reality (VR) training has grown substantially in recent years due to the emergence of affordable, consumer-grade VR technologies. The ability to simulate hazardous and difficult-to-access scenarios and environments provides the opportunity for practical hands-on training otherwise difficult to achieve. VR also provides the opportunity for trainees to fail safely increasing the appeal for safety-critical sectors. This study investigates the preliminary effectiveness of VR training for ozone generator isolation training compared to traditional training methods. Measures included are reaction, learning (i.e., knowledge gain and knowledge retention), and training duration. A mixed design was used with between-groups cross-sectional comparisons (N = 33) and a longitudinal evaluation on knowledge retention (N = 29). The VR training group reported significantly higher reaction results and took significantly less time to complete the training when compared with the traditional training group with no significant differences in learning outcomes. Overall, the results suggest that VR training can be a viable tool for delivering ozone generator isolation training. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of VR safety training in influencing behavioral change and reducing work-related accidents.

Language: en

Keywords

Evaluation methodology; Industrial training; Safety training; Training delivery method; Training effectiveness; Virtual reality