Review of virtual reality (VR) applications to enhance chemical safety: from students to plant operators

Abstract

Human performance is critical to ensure safety and health in hazardous chemical settings, wherein the majority of the accidents have been attributed to human error. As a result, both industry and academia have been concerned about the efficacy of knowledge and skill transfer. Virtual reality (VR) technology is gaining attention as a way to improve human performance. In this paper, we review the literature on the applications of VR to chemical safety in laboratories and industries. Our review reveals that VR offers much potential for training lab users and plant operators as well as for bridging the theoretical knowledge-practical skills gap. However, there is a need to develop systematic approaches to measure the effectiveness in achieving the desired training outcomes. Therefore, in this paper, we discuss the best practices for VR-based training. We also stress the need to incorporate physiological sensors into the VR environment.