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Addressing the challenges related to the safety of the work routines is one of the top priorities for any
modern industry, and constant investments are explicitly tailored to reduce work-related risks and to train
employees to follow safety procedures. Technological progress and the widespread adoption of immersive
visual technologies are nowadays offering the exciting possibility of improving the quality of safety training
programs. Virtual Reality is one of the technologies that is gaining significant recognition in the field of safety
training, and that may add a variety of benefits compared to traditional training programs.
Virtual reality provides companies with the possibility of training employees for safety procedures and risky
operations in a safe and controlled environment, promising to reduce costs, as well as to promote the quality of
the training. Furthermore, the technology may allow potentially dangerous procedures that now require the
physical presence of operators to be performed remotely, without reducing performances. The fast development
of newer, cheaper, and more versatile virtual reality head-mounted displays is creating new opportunities for the
adoption of the technology in many industries, ranging from construction to heavy manufacturing, mining, and
even food and beverage production. The present review analyses the current published scientific literature
reporting the use of virtual reality in work safety and attempts to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks that come
with the use of this technology. Furthermore, the listed and analysed the fields of application of virtual reality
regarding work safety and critically examines possible problems of the technology.
Keywords: Virtual Reality, Virtual Environments, Safety, Work, Training, Performance, Human Factors.
adopters of modern visualization technologies. has been described as the condition were the
Additional devices have been proposed to possible number of adverse outcomes was the
produce multisensory stimulations in order to lowest possible to achieve (Safety-I). However,
increase the sense of presence for the user different perspectives on safety have been
during the simulation. For example, the use of theorized (see Hollnagel, 2018). Safety II has a
specifically designed treadmills can create the high focus what goes right (safety) rather than
illusion of a variety of motions in the VR how things goes wrong (not safety).
(Sinitski et al., 2018). Furthermore, a Safety II perspective puts its
When talking about virtual reality, health focus on ensuring that as much as possible goes
and safety considerations need to be considered. right on “normal performance.” A Safety II
Some people have reported experiencing a framework also proposes the development of
variety of uncomfortable symptoms during the systems able to cope with unpredictable
use of VR. Those symptoms are commonly conditions, rather that excluding that
described with the umbrella term of simulator- unpredictable conditions may happen in safe
sickness (sometimes cyber-sickness). Many operations. Hollnagel, (2018), proposed the
symptoms are reported to be connected to complementary role of Safety I and Safety II
simulator sickness in the scientific literature, theoretical approaches.
among them: nausea, headache, uncomfortable
stomach, numbness, etc. (Johnson, 2005). The 1.1 The present study
wide prevalence of symptoms among the general The present review aims to give an overview
population using VR may potentially slow down of the current published literature on the use of
the acceptance of the technology (Filigenzi, Orr, virtual reality in work safety, listing benefits and
& Ruff, 2000). problems with the use of the technology. In
Simulated environments have a long story particular, the research questions that will be
of uses and have been implemented in many analyzed are the following: 1) How and for
areas of work. However, only a few uses of this which industries has VR been used to improve
technology have been directly linked to work work safety? 2) From these studies, how
safety. Recent attempts in this direction can be effective is the use of VR in improving safety
seen also outside industry, as, for example, in performance? 3) Which methods have been used
the field of road safety, where the work of to study/evaluate the effectiveness of VR on
Schwebel et al. (2016) identified the use of VR safety measures? 4) Which theoretical
as a viable way to teach children how to perspectives have been taken on safety in these
properly behave at a street crossing. Several studies (Safety I or II)?.
published literature reviews (Bhoir & Esmaeili,
2015; Guo et al., 2017; Li et al., 2018) have
attempted to understand the use of VR in 2. Methods
construction safety to train workers on safety A literature search was performed to
procedures. understand the use of VR in work safety and its
The development and progressive adoption positive and negative aspects. Literature was
of VR can be an excellent opportunity to shape retrieved from the following databases of
training modules on specific industry needs. VR scientific research: Google Scholar, Web of
provides company and organizations with the Science, and Scopus. The articles were retrieved
opportunity to train people in security using combinations of the keywords: “VR”,
procedures and operations in known and safe “Virtual AND Reality”, “AND work AND
environments. VR training can thus help safety”. The article search was restricted from
operators prepare for stressful real-life January 2014 to October 2019, to select only the
emergencies. Research supporting the most recent applications of VR technology, as
implementation of Virtual Reality in the the topic is highly sensitive to technological
workplace has often reported results that suggest development. Articles including first-hand
that VR training may be a valuable resource to experimental results and review articles were
teach and employees about safety (Sacks, included. Only articles specifically investigating
Perlman, & Barak, 2013). work-related safety were included. A total of 16
When talking about safety in relation with articles were reported in the present article (see
training it is necessary to consider the theoretical Table 1 for an overview of their findings).
perspective on safety itself. Traditionally, safety
Proceedings of the 30th European Safety and Reliability Conference and
the 15th Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Management Conference
Bhoir & 2015 Construction Review article NA Mixed The technology can be useful
Esmaeili trying to identify for training, however, has not
pros and cons of the been yet widely
use of virtual reality implemented. Furthermore,
in the construction experienced workers report
field. preferring traditional hand-
on training.
Nazir & 2015 Chemical Discuss two case Performance I VR has the potential to
Manca studies that show measured in the become important for
how VR can ability to follow training, spatial learning,
improve process procedure knowledge improvement,
safety. (sequence) and performance assessment.
Thanks to this new kind of
training, abnormal situations
and incidents/accidents may
be prevented.
Proceedings of the 30th European Safety and Reliability Conference and
the 15th Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Management Conference
Pedro, Le, 2015 Construction Elaborate a Interface, Mixed VR offers a valid medium for
& Park framework for effectiveness, improving the identification
integrating safety and performance of possible work hazards,
into construction evaluation transfer of knowledge, and
methods education (mixed engagement of the training
through interactive methods). students.
virtual reality.
Nedel et al. 2016 General Testing the use of Questionnaire NA Listing behavioural patterns
Immersive VR and that predispose to risk
technology to physiological exposure.
decrease safety measures (heart
hazards in the rate).
context of
workplaces in
developing
countries.
Guo, Yu, 2017 Construction Review of articles NA Mixed The technology can be useful
& using VR both in the phases preceding
Skitmore technology for the work (training), both
construction works. during the work phases,
especially if integrated with
sensors for displaying danger
into the environment.
However, more development
is needed to make the
technology more effective.
Higgins 2017 General Evaluate the NA NA Being aware of the future use
possibility to of virtual reality in work and
effectively use VR safety.
in work safety.
Li et al. 2018 Construction Review of virtual Performance Mixed Critical review of work
and augmented (assessment of safety and its relation to
reality used in the physical damage virtual reality.
context of and visual
construction safety attention)
and behavior during
earthquakes.
Patle et al. 2019 Chemical Review of the NA Mixed The use of VR for operator
and Energy literature on VR- training simulator improve
based operator the sense of presence in the
training simulators. trainee and increase the
effectiveness of the training.
Table 1. Summary of virtual reality applications in work safety. The articles are ordered by year of
publication. NA: Not Applicable.
Proceedings of the 30th European Safety and Reliability Conference and
the 15th Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Management Conference
intrinsic danger that operators are exposed to of development or cast doubt on the
when working with inflammable and pressurized effectiveness of training in VR (Bhoir &
chemicals or with heavy construction Esmaeili, 2015). The unpleasant symptoms often
machinery. A higher potential safety risk experienced by users may slow down the
justifies the higher starting costs of developing acceptance of the technology, and more needs to
complex VR scenes (as argued in Patle et al., be understood about the health consequences of
2019) long-term use of the technology.
Most of the reviewed articles reported The development and validation of more
that virtual reality training can somehow help objective measurements (as psychophysiological
people prepare for real life emergency scenarios. indexes), as well as other quantitative and
Furthermore, it has been argued that the use of qualitative measurement for the effect of VR
VR in the work environment will not only trainings may improve the reliability of the
improve worker behavior, increasing their risk reported findings. Furthermore, a good training
awareness during their real-life work, but could program may gain advantages from the inclusion
be also influence their routine behaviors in an of both Safety I and Safety II types of training
unconscious way, and therefore affect the safety perspectives, promoting a training that improves
culture (Rebelo et al. 2018). the ability to cope both with unexpected adverse
Some authors have pointed out the situations, and to train in regular work
immaturity of the technology at the current stage procedures.
Luo N., Wang X., Van F., and Qian F. (2015). Integrated
simulation platform of chemical processes based on
virtual reality and dynamic model. Computer Aided
Chemical Engineering 37, 581-586
Manca D., Nazir S., Colombo S., and Kluge A. (2014)
Procedure for automated assessment of industrial
operators. Chem Eng Trans 36, 391-396.
McInnes, M.D., Moher, D., Thombs, B.D., McGrath, T.A.,
Bossuyt, P.M., Clifford, T., Cohen, J.F., Deeks,
J.J., Gatsonis, C., Hooft, L. and Hunt, H.A. (2018).
Preferred reporting items for a systematic review
and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy
studies: the PRISMA-DTA
statement. Jama, 319(4), 388-396.
Nazir S., and Manca, D. (2015) How a plant simulator can
improve industrial safety. Process Saf Prog 34,
237-243
Nedel, L., de Souza, V. C., Menin, A., Sebben, L., Oliveira,
J., Faria, F., and Maciel, A. (2016). Using
immersive virtual reality to reduce work accidents
in developing countries. IEEE computer graphics
and applications.
Patle, D. S., Manca, D., Nazir, S., and Sharma, S. (2019).
Operator training simulators in virtual reality
environment for process operators: a
review. Virtual Reality, 23(3), 293-311.
Pedro, A., Le, Q.T. and Park, C.S. (2015). Framework for
integrating safety into construction methods
education through interactive virtual
reality. Journal of Professional Issues in
Engineering Education and Practice, 142(2),
04015011.
Porcino, T. M., Clua, E., Trevisan, D., Vasconcelos, C. N.,
and Valente, L. (2017). Minimizing cyber sickness
in head mounted display systems: design guidelines
and applications. In 2017 IEEE 5th international
conference on serious games and applications for
health (SeGAH), pp. 1-6. IEEE.
Rebelo, F., Noriega, P., and Veronesi, J. (2018). A
Framework to Use Virtual Reality for Behavior
Change to Promote Safety and Health at Work.
In International Conference on Applied Human
Factors and Ergonomics, pp. 127-136. Springer,
Cham.
Sacks, R., Perlman, A., and Barak, R. (2013). Construction
safety training using immersive virtual
reality. Construction Management and
Economics, 31(9), 1005-1017.
Schwebel, D.C., Combs, T., Rodriguez, D., Severson, J.,
and Sisiopiku, V. (2016). Community-based
pedestrian safety training in virtual reality: A
pragmatic trial. Accident Analysis &
Prevention, 86, 9-15.
Smith, S., and Ericson, E. (2009). Using immersive game-
based virtual reality to teach fire-safety skills to
children. Virtual Reality, 13(2), 87-99.
Squelch, A.P. (2001). Virtual reality for mine safety
training in South Africa. Journal of the Southern
African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 101(4),
209-216.
Zhao, D., & Lucas, J. (2015). Virtual reality simulation for
construction safety promotion. International
journal of injury control and safety
promotion, 22(1), 57-67.