Site Safe launches VR training

The future of training has arrived with the launch of Site Safe’s first virtual reality (VR) health and safety training courses for New Zealand’s construction industry

Site Safe’s Foundation Passport courses – Building Construction and Civil VR – have been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and SkillsVR. Extensive industry consultation has also been undertaken to ensure that what is being delivered is what the industry wants to see in a foundational health and safety training course.

During this consultation, Site Safe also found that businesses wanted new and innovative ways to train their workers, including technology driven tools such as online learning and virtual reality.

Driving innovation

Compared to traditional classroom learning, VR training is more time-efficient, cost-effective and accommodating to people with different learning styles. It delivers consistent training content and results in high learning outcomes.

Learners will gain the tools and knowledge to keep themselves and others safe in areas such as working at heights, working in trenches, delivering materials, and laying foundations through an interactive, technology-driven virtual experience.

It also eliminates training risks and verifies competency, as learning outcomes are automatically logged through Learning Records.

“As the industry’s leading safety organisation, we are committed to working alongside industry to make sure our training is the gold standard in giving our kaimahi the knowledge they need to stay safe onsite,” said Site Safe Chief Executive Brett Murray. 

“By utilising technology such as VR, Site Safe continues to lead in providing innovative and effective ways of delivering workplace health and safety training.”

VR health and safety training allows for workers to be fully immersed in and engaged with their learning. Using VR headsets and controllers, learners complete interactive tasks, such as hazard and risk identification, PPE selection, and identifying how to keep themselves and others healthy and safe in a construction environment. 

Safe introduction to construction

While VR health and safety training is not designed to replace real-life experiences, it is a safe way to introduce a construction environment to someone without prior experience. The virtual ‘on-the-job’ environment means there are no real-life risks to learners.  

Since its launch with MSD in September 2022, more than 1,000 job seekers and learners have completed the VR courses, gaining the knowledge and skills required to keep themselves and others safe on site. Learners also receive a digital Site Safety card, which is valid for two years.

Job seeker Jacob Hedley was the first person to complete the VR Foundation Passport training course. In just one-and-a-half hours, he had achieved his digital Site Safety Card and important skills to assist in his job search.

“I was blown away,” said Hedley. “You can actually go [onto the] site, take a video of whatever that site is and say, ‘this is what we do here’.

“[It] will save managers time in getting someone to induct them.”

One way to fight labour shortages

The development of VR health and safety training is an innovative way of getting people ready for work in the construction industry.

“It is important that we are doing all we can to ensure that construction is seen as a safe and attractive sector to work in,” said Murray. 

“Training plays a big part in building the competence and confidence of our workforce to produce good work outcomes.”

Site Safe’s Foundation Passport – Building Construction (VR) and Foundation Passport – Civil (VR) courses are now available to book in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Visit sitesafe.org.nz to learn more and book now.  

 

Site Safe is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation that supports a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction. For more information go to: www.sitesafe.org.nz