VR safety training showcased at Farm Progress Show

Virtual reality has arrived at the Farm Progress Show to better teach workplace safety.

Hazard ID VR is a program developed by White Rabbit VR. The program is meant as a training tool for labourers to better spot dangerous situations and how to react to them.

Lyle Hewitt, director of business development with White Rabbit VR, said that although the virtual reality program is not meant for the agriculture industry, it can still help farmers.

“If you’re constructing a building on your farm, whether that’s a house, a barn or some other facility, this will help you to train yourself to identify hazards and work more safely,” Hewitt said.

Hazard ID was developed six months ago and has partnered with the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association for their safety training.

Hewitt added that the program is highly successful because it simulates a realistic dangerous workplace situation and has the user react to it, rather than being told what is and isn’t safe.

“There’s an aspect in virtual reality that your subconscious mind won’t be able to distinguish between something that you’ve viewed and something that you’ve done,” said Hewitt, who added that the concept is conveyed better in a more realistic VR setting.

Ford Motors, for example, has used virtual reality safety training and has reported a 70-per-cent reduction in workplace injuries as a result.

Hewitt also added that using virtual reality safety training is cost-effective for an employer.

“It can cut down on instructor time, depending on the kind of training that you’re doing, (and) it eliminates the materials cost,” said Hewitt, who gave the example of welders being able to use virtual welding rods rather than real ones. “For other applications it can cut down on travel costs.”

Hewitt said the virtual reality safety training modules are $250 each and require Oculus headsets, which retail for around $300.

White Rabbit VR is hoping to expand Hazard ID VR into other industries and is looking into implementing the program into trade schools for training.