Advancing safety training for nuclear decommissioning and dismantling: Integrating MX-based approaches for improved...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Safety
• Human Factors Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering

Background:

• Nuclear power plant decommissioning (D&D) involves complex technological, organizational, and human transformations.
• Effective management and employee preparation are crucial for navigating D&D changes.
• Existing D&D safety training often lacks scientific rigor and systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a scientifically grounded training program for occupational safety competencies during D&D.
• To assess the effectiveness of a problem-based training approach enhanced with Mixed Reality (MX) elements.
• To investigate participant reactions, knowledge acquisition, and usability of MX training.

Main Methods:

• Training needs assessment, including safety event analysis and expert interviews.
• Development of a problem-based training program incorporating Mixed Reality (MX) elements.
• Multi-phase evaluation with two pilot groups (N=15) from Germany and Switzerland.

Main Results:

• Participants reported positive reactions to the training design, relevance, and MX usability.
• Low simulator sickness scores were observed.
• Objective knowledge gains were inconsistent, showing a temporary decline post-training but stabilizing at follow-up.

Conclusions:

• MX-based training is well-accepted and shows potential for safety training in D&D and other high-risk socio-technical systems.
• Further research is needed to understand MX training's impact on objective performance and long-term learning.
• The study highlights the need for scientifically grounded and systematically evaluated training programs in complex industrial settings.