Gamification using technologies for occupational safety training in the civil construction sector

Area of Science:

• Construction Safety
• Educational Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Construction sites present unique safety challenges due to potential deviations from regulatory norms, often exacerbated by inadequate training.
• Emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) offer innovative solutions through simulations, modeling, and gamified environments to enhance user engagement in safety training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review technological advancements in safety training within the global construction industry.
• To specifically highlight the application and potential of serious games in improving worker safety.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted across five scientific databases.
• A research protocol guided the investigation into gamification's role in ensuring worker safety.

Main Results:

• Fifteen articles comprising descriptive, observational, and case studies were evaluated.
• The adoption of technology in construction safety training is not yet widespread, facing hurdles such as gameplay design and cost.
• Despite limitations, these technologies demonstrate considerable potential for dynamic training and accident prevention in civil construction.

Conclusions:

• Various software and tools facilitate 3D scene creation, customized user experiences, and realistic project modeling using Building Information Modeling (BIM).
• Combining traditional teaching with serious games is feasible, though gamification faces limitations in rule flexibility, impacting user decision-making authenticity.