Login
On Day 1 of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) annual Conference (16 September at the ICC, Birmingham) we’ll be previewing exciting new research we have funded with the University of Nottingham into how virtual reality can improve workers’ behaviour during emergency evacuations and increase safety awareness.
The researchers developed a multisensory virtual environment using VR, heat and smell to see how workers respond in evacuation scenarios and if sensory stimuli help to improve safety outcomes. As part of the research, two scenarios were developed: a building fire and evacuation and an engine disassembly task with a fluid leak and response actions. As participants using the software approached a virtual fire, they felt heat from three 2kW heaters and smelt smoke from a scent diffuser, creating a greater sense of immersion.
The virtual reality scenario will be available to try out at our Conference, offering you an immersive experience simulating a fire in a building and evacuation procedure. You can be among the first to try this simulation out for yourself and to learn more about the research findings. The academics will be available and are happy to be interviewed.
There are many other sessions during the Conference focusing on the Construction industry, including new research on safety and health management on the London Tideway project and fire safety in high-rise buildings. A full of list of Construction-focused sessions is available here: https://www.ioshconference.com/__media/IOSH2019-Construction.pdf
