On-the-job training of new hires assigned to work in hazardous environments, where making a mistake can have catastrophic consequences, can be extremely dangerous for people, for the environment, and for company assets, and yet hard to schedule and very expensive.
On the other hand the traditional training methods (books, manuals, classroom training, as well as e-learning and audio-visuals) do not cover the practical part of training, and are now quite outdated and unwelcome to new generations of workers, the so-called "digital natives".
As a result, the design and engineering of training programs which can solve both problems described above, overcoming the safety, logistical and financial difficulties related to training-on-the-job and making it more attractive and engaging for learners, represent a critical challenge for companies in the next coming years.
In this paper we present a case study describing an innovative training project based on the use of a Virtual Training Environment (or "VTE" or "simulator") for the training of new hires in a typical O&G working environment.
In our simulator, fully developed at Contractor's software labs and tailored to Oil Company specifications, the students came into contact with a simulated immersive 3D virtual world that emulates actual conditions of a drilling land rig, in order to familiarize with the scenario and gain information on its main elements. The trainees were therefore able to perceive the underlying mechanics involved and had the chance to make several attempts, if necessary, to perform tasks without the cost associated with errors in a real situation.
Our study points out that also personnel not necessarily assigned to work in the real counterpart of the virtual working environment, such as desk engineers and staff employees, had clear benefits from being trained with the simulator described in this article, in terms of conceptual understanding and learning retention.
The method described in this paper has some very interesting innovative features that make it particularly suitable for use as a HS&E training tool.
This paper describes a novel approach on the use of Virtual Reality simulators for HS&E training of personnel assigned to work in hazardous environments. It describes how state-of-the-art technology mainly developed for the Gaming industry, such as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality simulators, can be used for business application with great contribution to workers' safety and operational excellence.
