A downloadable game

Overview

Working at heights is a leading cause of death and serious injury in Australia (Safe Work Australia, 2023). This application aims to provide an immersive simulated virtual reality (VR) experience to effectively train individuals in the safe operation of suspended working platforms (SWPs). Using a virtual reality system trainees can be effectively trained at a low cost in a low-risk simulated environment to improve on-site safety and safe operating procedure (SOP) effectiveness.

The video below shows the application as it was before this project.

The below video shows the beginning of the development of the updated application.

Application Description

Training for operating a SWP is necessary to facilitate safe and effective operation of the equipment. However, training usually requires access to a SWP, which can be expensive and comes with the real risk associated with operating a SWP. Alternatively, some training can be done on paper, but it is not significantly effective (Din and Gibson, 2019). A solution to this dilemma is using virtual reality (VR) to simulate the operation of a SWP. This is cost-effective, low-risk, and accessible (Rey-Becerra et al., 2021). Using a VR application allows for a realistic simulation of the high-risk environment (Rokooei et al., 2023) and can closely mirror the operation of a real SWP.

In the virtual reality application, the trainee is placed on a suspended working platform (SWP) on the side of a skyscraper. The trainee's goal is to complete multiple tasks that necessitates the safe operation of the SWP. These include checking their equipment, rigging their tools and themselves to the SWP, making sure their tools are clean, and cleaning the windows. By making the trainee operate the suspended working platform they are familiarised with the activity and can operate the SWP safely and effectively. This training is directly transferrable to real-life, on-site operation of a SWP

Using an immersive virtual reality environment trainees will have increased learning effectiveness, thereby improving safety quality when they perform the same operations on-site (Badr, 2023). To achieve an immersive environment, the trainee’s familiarity and sense of presence in the virtual environment is enhanced by background audio (Lu and Davis, 2016), including wind, machine operation, and city sounds.

To further emulate the experience of working at heights when operating a SWP, the trainee is placed high above the ground where interactions with the SWP system is required to complete a task (cleaning high-rise windows).

Interaction Design

The interactions in previous version of this application were (these will not be removed):

Control box with buttons to operate the SWP, based on an existing temporary SWP system (Scatech Gondola, 2023).
Using cleaning apparatus to clean windows to provide an activity to do alongside the operation of the SWP.

The current revision of the application’s planned interactions include:

A fall arrest system to further enhance the training, ensuring that trainees appropriately manage their safety harness.
A tool attachment system to ensure safety around the handling of tool.
Inspections of equipment as per the safe operating procedure (SOP), checking to see if the SWP is safe for operating.
Dynamic movement of the platform, reacting to wind and the user’s movement.
Varied weather conditions.
Lateral constraints of the SWP if required due to wind.
Other SOP scenarios, such as safe entry and exit of the SWP.

The fall arrest system is required to teach the trainees the appropriate skills to use a fall arrest system included on a SWP to meet the code of practice as defined in ‘Managing the risk of falls at workplaces’ section 7.3 (Safe Work Australia, 2018). This includes knowledge of the anchorage points, harness, snap hooks and/or karabiners, etc.

The tool attachment and rigging system allows the trainee to practice safety procedures relating to handling tools (e.g. attaching them to a cable) such that they cannot fall and hurt anyone, or cause damage. The inspection of the equipment can involve completing a daily checklist, as in Safe Work Australia’s Guide to Suspended (Swing Stage) Scaffolds (2014).

Example checklist:

Dynamic movement of the platform in response to weather conditions or user movement can enhance the trainees’ sense of presence in the environment such that they can learn to be comfortable when working at heights. Also, when there are excessive movements of the SWP due to wind, lateral restraints are required (Safe Work Australia, 2014).

Storyboard for equipment check:

Storyboard for connecting safely attaching tools:

Technical Design

The application was developed and tested using the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset with the included controllers.

To interact with the buttons on the suspended working platform control box, hold the grip trigger (5) to make a fist, then point with the index finger by not touching the trigger (6) to press the button.

To wash the window, grab the cleaning apparatus by holding the grip trigger (5), then wipe the dirty window.

During the inspection task users can use the B button to rotate the object, and the A button to mark the tool as safe.

When connecting tools to the anchors, users can use the A button to connect them.

Description of 3D Models

Suspended Working Platform (SWP)

The SWP is where the user is placed in the application from which they clean control the SWP to move up and down as needed to clean the high-rise windows.

Control Box

The control box is where the user interacts with two buttons that move the SWP up and down.

Cleaning Apparatus (Squeegee)

The cleaning apparatus is the tool that the user can clean the windows with.

Dirty Windows

The dirty windows are intended to be cleaned with the cleaning apparatus while the user is trained to operate the SWP.

City

On the side of a skyscraper in the New York City asset is where the application is set.

Mop

The mop is a tool the user can cleaning longer distance with.

Bucket

The bucket is a tool the user can clean the other tools with.

Belt

The belt is used to show the user's rope connections to the platform.

Spray Bottle

The spray bottle is a tool the user can apply soap with.

Carabiner

The carabiner is used to connect tools and the player to the SWP.

Conclusion

As noted working at heights can be extremely dangerous, through the use of different interactions and scenarios simulated in virtual reality it gives the workers close to real-world training helping them be successful in the safe operation of a suspended working platform.

References

Bibliography

BADR, S. 2023. VR-based Safety Training Program for High-rise Construction Projects. Master of Science Masters, American University in Cairo.

BBC LONDON 2019. Window cleaning London's tallest skyscrapers - BBC London.

DIN, Z. U. & GIBSON, G. E. 2019. Serious games for learning prevention through design concepts: An experimental study. Safety Science, 115, 176-187.

FOREVR GAMES. 2023. How to Pick Up a Ball [Online]. Available: https://help.forevrgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/4416032155789-How-to-Pick-Up-a-Ball [Accessed 29/08 2023].

LU, X. & DAVIS, S. 2016. How sounds influence user safety decisions in a virtual construction simulator. Safety Science, 86, 184-194.

REY-BECERRA, E., BARRERO, L. H., ELLEGAST, R. & KLUGE, A. 2021. The effectiveness of virtual safety training in work at heights: A literature review. Applied Ergonomics, 94, 103419.

ROKOOEI, S., SHOJAEI, A., ALVANCHI, A., AZAD, R. & DIDEHVAR, N. 2023. Virtual reality application for construction safety training. Safety Science, 157, 105925.

SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA. 2014. Guide to Suspended (Swing Stage) Scaffolds [Online]. Available: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1703/guide-suspended-swing-stage-scaffolds.pdf [Accessed 08/10 2023].

SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA. 2018. Managing the risk of falls at workplaces - Code of Practice [Online]. Available: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-10/Model%20Code%20of%20Practice%20-%20Managing%20the%20Risk%20of%20Falls%20at%20Workplaces%2021102022_0.pdf [Accessed 08/10 2023].

SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA. 2023. Working at heights [Online]. Available: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/working-heights [Accessed 29/08 2023].

SCATECH GONDOLA. 2023. Temporary System Old [Online]. Available: https://www.scatechgondola.com/temporary-system-old [Accessed 29/08 2023].

Assets

Status	Released
Author	Zack Pianta

KIT208 Assignment 4 VR Group 5

Overview

Application Description

Interaction Design

Technical Design

Description of 3D Models

Conclusion

References

Bibliography

Assets

3D Models

Audio

Programming/Unity

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