Interactive tools for safety 4.0: virtual ergonomics and serious games in real working contexts

Area of Science:

• Occupational Safety and Health
• Human Factors Engineering
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Traditional safety training methods often lack engagement and effective skill verification.
• Disseminating a strong safety culture requires innovative approaches.
• Simulating hazardous procedures in real industrial settings poses significant risks and logistical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate an innovative safety training methodology integrating digital ergonomics simulations and serious games.
• To assess the effectiveness of digital ergonomics and serious games in improving worker attention and safety awareness.
• To compare the proposed training approach against traditional methods in an industrial context.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of digital ergonomics simulations for safety culture dissemination.
• Utilization of serious games for operator training on specific safety procedures and skill verification.
• Experimentation in a real industrial environment comparing the new methodology with traditional training.

Main Results:

• Multimedia content and quantitative ergonomic analyses significantly improved worker attention and safety awareness.
• Serious games proved effective for training on standard operating procedures that are difficult or dangerous to simulate live.
• The proposed methodology provided better feedback on worker skills than standard educational strategies.

Conclusions:

• Digital ergonomics and serious games offer a promising, effective alternative to traditional safety training.
• This integrated approach enhances worker engagement, knowledge retention, and practical skill acquisition.
• The methodology is particularly valuable for training on high-risk or complex operational procedures.