Virtual Reality Techniques in Workplace Design and Ergonomic Assessment

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Ergonomics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Ergonomic risk assessment is crucial for designing safe and efficient workplaces.
• Traditional methods may not fully capture the complexities of modern work environments.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive simulation capabilities for enhanced assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on VR applications in ergonomic risk assessment.
• To identify current methodologies, challenges, and future opportunities in this field.
• To synthesize fragmented research for practitioners and researchers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review methodology utilizing seven databases and journals.
• Screening of 4,377 identified records.
• Analysis of nineteen studies employing VR for simulating work environments and assessing ergonomic risks.

Main Results:

• Nineteen studies utilized VR for simulating manufacturing and office environments.
• VR integrated with methods like Ergonomic Assessment Worksheet (EAWS) and CUELA.
• Identified limitations in VR tools for realistic environmental interactions.

Conclusions:

• Integrating VR with established ergonomic assessment methods shows promise for improved efficacy.
• VR has high potential for designing ergonomic workplaces and conducting evaluations.
• Further research is essential to realize VR's full benefits in occupational health and safety.