OSHA Fall Safety VR
Role: Product Designer & User Researcher
Year: 2020
Client: U.S. Dept of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration
UX/UI Methodologies & Techniques:
• Product Design
• UX Research
• Usability Testing
• Information Architecture
Software
Problem
Falls are the leading cause of death in construction
Fall safety training is critical in preventing fatal injuries when working from height.
Current training methods lack hands on training and require instructors that speak multiple languages.
Existing training methods are limited to slideshow presentations that lack engagement for trainees.
U.S. Dept. of Labor
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
In 2023, there were 421 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,075 construction fatalities (BLS data). These deaths are preventable.
Doug Parker
Assistant Secretary of Labor
Employers should communicate expectations that workers will speak up about hazards and have a moral and legal obligation to protect workers from falls.
Project Goals
Create an E-learning program for workers to learn on-demand
By creating online VR training that is guided by a virtual instructor, workers all over the world could get asynchronous training at a reduced cost.
Create engaging content that improves retention of safety training
Once our learning materials become available, we can test with construction workers to see if retention rates and engagement improve.
Process
Using VR to safely conduct training on a virtual job-site.
VR Fall Safety training features voice-acted mentorship from a Construction Management professor, guiding participants through multiple modules of interactive learning material. Subtitles are included in multiple languages.
I created a visual guide to help users comprehend the material, provide instruction for interaction, and supplement detailed information such as OSHA regulation codes. I was responsible for interaction design, instructional design and user testing.
5 Stage Process
Preliminary Research
• Subject matter
• Problem Frame
Brainstorming
• Storyboarding
• Design Workshops
Design
• Sketches
• Visual guide
• Script
Prototype
• Interactions
• 3D Models
• Audio recording
Evaluate
• User testing
• Retention metrics
• Usability
Preliminary Research
I started by consolidating source materials and mapping a concise outline
Spending time with our SME and the training materials allowed me to develop our information architecture, breaking the content in 6 distinct modules.
Each module would include: learning objectives → 5–7 minute lessons → interactive scenario → quick retrieval quiz.
Design Principles
1.
Show, don't tell using job-site situations.
2.
Keep modules short and ladder up from fundamentals.
3.
Practice safely, simulating without physical risk
4.
Use repetition and retrieval to boost retention.
Sources
Building Construction Mgmt. Professor
James L. Jenkins
OSHA online training materials
OSHA's Fall Prevention Campaign
Storyboarding
Design
I created a visual guide that synced with dialogue to provide context and detail
This provided all the necessary supplemental information while sustaining the context for the dialogue. Utilizing this 2D presentation format in our virtual space made it easier as an educator and for trainees to make the transition from stationary to active learning.
The initial script, written by a construction professor became the basis for our workflow.
We synthesized the content into design documents to keep things organized. This allowed us to have a shared vision and to prioritize development throughout the project.
With over an hour of audio recording required, decisions and changes needed to be made quickly.
We started by finalizing the first module so our audio engineer could begin his work. Before scripts were finalized, the audio team focused on creating other sound effects and any auxiliary audio snippets.
Prototype
The core value of VR is immersive engagement, which relies on quality interaction design
Prototyping interactions was a cross-functional collaboration with developers to create immersive experiences that could were also optimized and simplified to reduce development costs. Beyond the basic point-n- click menus and interactable static objects, a few key and potentially complex motor activities had to be demonstrated.
Measuring Guardrail Installation
The tape measure is a simple measuring tool allowing users to perform measurements of guardrails on the jobsite. Aiming the controller and pulling the trigger extends the tape toward the object of interest, displaying the measurement in digits above the hand.
Harness Inspection
Harnesses can be inspected through physical manipulation of two floating harnesses to allow comparison between damaged and undamaged harnesses, highlighting the critical failure points.
Lanyard Inspection
Inspection requires making a U-shape bend along the length of the lanyard. Users can change the position of the bend with a simple hand motion to perform a visual inspection.
Simulated Fall Test
The fall distance test is the culmination of fall safety training. Users must perform an inspection and appropriate installation of the fall arrest system. The equipment is then tested, with its results being demonstrated by a virtual ragdoll, minus the traumatic details and sound effects.
Safe Ladder Use
Proper placement and safe use of ladders prevents injury. Users are asked to place an extension ladder against a house at the proper angle. By standing in the right place and extending their arms completely demonstrates the proper 4:1 angle for placing extension ladders.
Evaluate
Pepper Construction volunteered multiple trained construction workers to participate in user testing.
Workers provided feedback and the opportunity for observation while they engaged in the virtual training. The data we gathered helped us make improvements to the program and to proceed with the remaining development with confidence. Here are some images we took from our round of testing.
Afterwards, participants claimed that this virtual method for training was a more fun and engaging way of learning compared to the methods they were used to.
Engagement
100% of participants claimed that this virtual method for training was a more fun and engaging way of learning
Retention
100% of participants claimed that this virtual method for training was a more fun and engaging way of learning
Fatigue
100% of participants claimed that this virtual method for training was a more fun and engaging way of learning