Let it be said that Health and Safety training has not always had the greatest reception in most organizations. It is often perceived as dry, directive, outdated and, due to the mandatory nature of several Health and Safety components, simply a ‘must-do’ in order to get on with the business of the day.
It is no wonder that most employers are looking for effective and engaging methods to change how health and safety training is delivered in the modern workplace.
Enter virtual safety training.
Using existing virtual technology, employers can now offer simulated settings to any workplace that provide the feeling of a real-life situation in a safe and secure environment.
Human Condition Systems has developed virtual training programs for numerous environments. These programs simulate potentially dangerous work settings so that workers can develop effective responses to extremely stressful situations. The most recent program introduced by Human Condition Systems is a virtual training tool which can be used to prepare workplaces and employees to respond to active shooting situations.
Click here to read the article and watch the promotional clip.
As Canadians we may not perceive this type of ‘extreme’ training tool as necessary. We pride ourselves on having low incidents of violent workplace shootings but they do exist. Perhaps the introduction of this type of technology will allow for more discussion, more engagement and more safety preparedness linked to the possibilities of real threats to and within our current workplaces.
If a virtual reality program helps save one person’s real life in the workplace, then maybe the time has come for this change.
Discussion Questions:
- What types of industries do you think would benefit from offering virtual safety training to employees?
- What types of risks might be related to the introduction of virtual safety training in Canadian workplaces?
- What was your reaction to the video clip embedded in this article?