Improving Hazard Recognition Skills Using Emerging Virtual Technology

Hazard recognition among the workforce is an important part of identifying hazards, assessing risk, and implementing the proper controls to protect people, property, and the environment. The ability to identify hazards and properly perceive the associated risks is also strongly correlated with good organizational safety culture. While formal processes for hazard recognition, such as routine audits, workplace hazard assessments, job hazard analyses, and incident investigations, are often core elements of established occupational safety and health programs, a phenomenon known as variation in hazard recognition often occurs. To address this issue, organizations should start with effective hazard recognition training. This training has evolved over time, from live in-person training to e-Learning to what is now known as immersive virtual training. Immersive technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and transitional reality, can be useful for training workers on the critical hazards they may experience in the workplace without any real exposure to the hazards. Current research has shown these immersive technologies to be effective at improving hazard recognition skills while also being inclusive of different knowledge and literacy levels and learning styles. Because of the way these immersive training technologies allow for better engagement and foster learning among workers to improve hazard recognition skills, it is recommended that organizations consider the benefits of these technologies to improve hazard recognition among their respective workforces.