The latest technological advances in training are being introduced locally by KBC Health & Safety in the form of virtual reality. This allows learners to experience a simulated version of real-life dangerous scenarios where they can learn to mitigate the associated risks with the benefit of being in a safe place, explains Innovation Manager Natalie Pitout. KBC is a holistic provider of Onboarding solutions in Southern Africa, as well as induction and other training solutions across the mining industry.

“The benefit of simulation is that it is not a real-life situation where a possible fatality could result. Instead, any wrong actions can be addressed safely and proactively,” says Pitout. Virtual reality is not a standalone competency module, but is being introduced by KBC as part of a blended learning approach. It has been under intensive development for about six months and will be rolled out later this year.

Blended learning means there is a theoretical component designed to impart the necessary knowledge, which learners are then assessed on, followed by a virtual reality experiential component by means of headset goggles. Pitout highlights that this is completely different to virtual training, which is essentially instructor-led training in a virtual environment. Here learners simply login to a platform like Zoom or Microsoft Teams and receive training as if they were in an actual classroom environment.

“A major benefit of virtual reality is that we can put people from different industries together in one room with the same virtual setting,” points out KBC Regional General Manager Coastal Ruan Janse Van Rensburg. For example, coal and platinum miners can be engaged together to identify common hazards in their respective segments. “It means we can actually see how different workers react in different situations.”

This is made possible by introducing analytics on the back end, an enhancement that KBC is currently refining. “We want to be able to get to a stage where we are actually able to define the risk rating that a particular employee or contractor poses to a company when on-site,” says Janse Van Rensburg. “That level of detail is obviously a long-term goal, as we are still in the process of defining the measurement parameters.”

Pitout adds that analytics will clearly identify if people are making the same mistakes or whether they are identifying similar risks. “It could most definitely even bring out another training need.” For example, if a working-at-height environment is simulated and people are seen to be making the same mistakes, the hazards or risks can be identified for clients and an appropriate virtual reality simulation suggested to remedy that problem. “It might even be that only a refresher course as opposed to more intensive retraining is required.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen an increased interest in interventions like virtual reality, says Janse Van Rensburg. “It has pushed clients to not only learn how to use the technology, but also to incorporate it into their own training programmes. This is going to prove to be a vital value-add for our clients.”

KBC is collaborating with various business partners responsible for the technology itself, while it is the training specialist equipped to carry out the necessary training interventions. “We work hand-in-hand producing the modules, providing the necessary guidance in what we require and exactly how to build the simulation,” points out Janse Van Rensburg.

A key focus for the rollout is expected to be the Centralised Induction Training Committee (CITC) in Richards Bay, which has expressed a keen interest in the offering. “The CITC is very open to new thinking and technology. It is not only invaluable for us to have such a partner, but it is hugely beneficial to the mining industry as a whole,” says Janse Van Rensburg.

“Due to the trying times as a result of Covid-19, we want to make our clients more aware that we do offer training services like virtual reality which will allow them to deal with any problems before contractors actually go to site,” concludes Pitout.

Advantages of Virtual Reality

Immersive learner experience

Virtual environment

Learners tend to learn much quicker with practical experience

Information is retained better by the learner

Safer learning environment

Virtual reality safety training allows for endless repetition

Allows you to test and evaluate your safety procedures

Provides insightful evaluation of problem areas