The demands on occupational safety are constantly increasing, especially in a rapidly changing world of work. To ensure that safety training also keeps pace, more and more companies are turning to innovative technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies take training to a whole new level: realistic, low-risk and location-independent.

VR and AR: practical training in virtual environments

Virtual and augmented reality offer the opportunity to realistically simulate dangerous situations - without the real risk for the participants. Employees can use VR and AR technologies to learn how to act correctly in critical situations. Particularly in situations such as firefighting or handling heavy machinery, scenarios can be created that would be difficult or impossible to realise in the real world.

Thanks to these technologies, employees can practise the right behaviour and train their skills in safe environments. VR glasses, such as the Meta Quest or HTC Vive, are all that is needed to carry out these virtual training sessions. The systems simulate workplaces and real working environments in which employees can apply and improve their safety techniques.

Artificial intelligence in security training

The role of artificial intelligence (AI) is also becoming increasingly important in occupational safety. AI-supported learning platforms can personalise individual training content based on data analyses and identify safety risks in real time. For example, by recognising work patterns, AI can make recommendations on when it is time to take a break or how personal protective equipment (PPE) should be adjusted. This not only ensures better protection for employees, but also helps to recognise and avoid potential hazards at an early stage.

The DGUV emphasises the importance of AI in occupational safety, as AI solutions increase the efficiency of training and help companies to optimise occupational safety. Through real-time feedback and targeted analyses of dangerous situations, AI can prepare employees even better for potential risks.

Efficient and sustainable learning

The effectiveness of safety training depends largely on the methods used. Studies show that people internalise learning content much better when they are actively involved in the learning process. VR and AR play a decisive role here: they enable interactive and immersive training experiences in which the participants are directly involved in what is happening. This form of learning leads to a higher retention rate and faster learning success.

According to an internal study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2020 with 1,600 participants, employees learn four times faster with VR than in conventional training courses and retain what they learn better. This not only leads to more efficient training, but also to a more sustainable internalisation of safety-relevant behaviour.

Practical training, realistic scenarios

The PwC 2022 US Metaverse Survey found that 51 % of organisations are either in the process of integrating VR into their business units or have already integrated VR into at least one business unit. 34 % of the companies indicated that one of the biggest benefits of metaverse that they are currently using or anticipate using in the near future would be to provide a more effective way to develop and train employees.

This shows that a large proportion of today's companies are already convinced of the benefits of VR training. VR training offers companies the opportunity to train their employees under real conditions - without actually putting them at risk. In this way, complex maintenance work or the handling of hazardous substances can be trained safely and efficiently in a virtual environment. The simulation of hazardous situations offers employees the opportunity to learn at their own pace and make mistakes without the threat of real consequences.

The developers of such digitalised training environments work closely with CAD data and 3D visualisations to recreate workstations as realistically as possible. Even colleagues themselves and the machines used in the work area can be integrated into these training courses to make the learning effect even more intensive and thus reinforce it.

Conclusion: The future of safety training

The integration of VR, AR and AI into occupational safety opens up new dimensions for safety training. Employees not only learn faster and more effectively, but also more safely. Dangerous situations can be played out in a safe environment and important behaviours can be internalised for the long term. The combination of these technologies enables companies to take their safety training to the next level and thus optimise occupational safety throughout the entire organisation.

The result: more efficient training, improved safety and motivated employees who are also better prepared for emergencies than ever before.

FAQs:

How do VR and AR improve safety training?
VR and AR make it possible to simulate realistic hazardous situations in which employees can train safely and risk-free. They offer practical learning environments in which participants are directly involved in the action, which significantly increases the learning effect.

What are the advantages of AI-supported training?
Artificial intelligence analyses work patterns in real time and provides immediate feedback. This means that employees can be given personalised support, for example with advice on the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) or how to avoid overexertion.

Are VR, AR and AI training courses more expensive than conventional training courses?
The initial costs for hardware and development may be higher, but the scalability and location-independent implementation reduce the overall costs in the long term. In addition, participants learn faster and retain the knowledge better, which increases the efficiency of the training courses.