Technology & equipment
In the heavy machinery and safety-first world of mining, impactful skills training is paramount. This is why miners are turning to virtual reality (VR) technology, a medium that proponents say offers more cut-through than traditional techniques alone, as well as hands-on experience without the risk. Heidi Vella speaks to VR training experts to find out what the technology can offer in the skills and training space.
Virtual reality check I
f there was ever any doubt mining is a high-risk sector in terms of health and safety, you just need to look at the statistics. According to the US Bureau of Labor, the fatal injury rate for the overall mining industry in 2021 was 14.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers – more than three times the rate of private industry. This is why skills and training within the sector are paramount; people must be competent at the tasks they are doing before they are allowed to do them. The risks are simply too high. Operating heavy machinery and equipment, and also working at heights or in challenging underground conditions, are just some of the health and safety risks miners will encounter. There are established training programmes to build competency in these operations, including classroom teaching, online and on-the-job training, as well as toolbox talks that provide a communication
forum between supervisors and workers to reinforce safe work practices. But, increasingly, miners are eyeing adding another medium to the mix: virtual reality (VR) technology.
More accessible than ever VR immerses users in a fully digital environment through a headset or surrounding display, while the virtual surroundings can be computer-generated or filmed in 360-degree video. The main attraction of the technology is that it can expose trainees to real-world working conditions without the associated risks – a big bonus in the mining sector. However, miners are discovering it offers many other benefits. The use of VR for business-led applications has been going on for over a decade. During this time uptake has been nascent, but this is rapidly changing due to the
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World Mining Frontiers /
www.nsenergybusiness.com
Jemastock; Macrovector/
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