Safety Training May Soon be Conducted by Virtual Reality
At the 2020 International Builder’ Show, visitors to the IBS Jobsite Safety Zone were treated to the potential future of safety training: Virtual reality.
FreeRange XR, a virtual reality software company based in California, demonstrated some of their offerings at IBS on the Safety Zone stage as a part of the safety products demonstration series new for 2020. FreeRange is focusing on the construction and industrial training market.
The company offers modules for training in confined spaces, fall protection and hazardous materials handling. It notes that most people learn by doing, and virtual reality provides a safe, immersive and engaging experience where students learn behavior-based safety.
With VR goggles on, workers can experience working up high without proper protection and the terror of falling from a dangerous height, all with no physical risk. VR can also simulate the urgency and cramped conditions of working in confined spaces.
And there may be a learning benefit to using next-generation technology.
The founder of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab at Stanford University writes that “What makes VR different from using a computer is that you move your body naturally, as opposed to using a mouse and a keyboard. Hence, learners can leverage what psychologists call embodied cognition.”
Another recent study by researchers at the University of Nottingham in England found that employee safety could be improved through use of virtual reality in health and safety training. The researchers noted, “Health and safety training can fail to motivate and engage employees and can lack relevance to real-life contexts. Our research suggests that virtual environments can help address these issues, by increasing trainees’ engagement and willingness to participate in further training.”
FreeRange is not the only company looking to move into the potentially lucrative world of virtual reality construction safety training. Companies like STRIVR, PIXO, VIAR and even science giant 3M have VR training offerings.
VR offers the opportunity for uniform and engaging training in a number of safety disciplines. Whether it’s to protect workers or guard against OSHA violations, more training never hurt anyone.
For more information on jobsite safety, contact Rob Matuga.
Latest from NAHBNow
May 22, 2025
House Approves Tax Bill with Key Housing and Business ProvisionsBy a vote of 215-214, the House early in the morning on May 22 narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, sweeping tax and domestic policy legislation that NAHB believes is very positive for small businesses, real estate and our members.
May 22, 2025
Income Growth Helps Mute Existing Affordability ConstraintsDespite solid income gains and lower home prices, Americans still continue to face major housing affordability challenges, according to the latest data from the NAHB/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI). The CHI results from the first quarter of 2025 show that a family earning the nation’s median income of $104,200 needed 36% of its income to cover the mortgage payment on a median-priced new home. Low-income families, defined as those earning only 50% of median income, would have to spend 72% of their earnings to pay for the same new home.
Latest Economic News
May 22, 2025
Existing Home Sales Fall in AprilDespite the brief retreat in mortgage rates and increased supply, existing home sales dropped to 7-month low in April, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This unexpected decline suggests buyers’ activity continues to be constrained by economic uncertainty and ongoing affordability challenges even with improved market conditions.
May 22, 2025
Income Growth Helps Mute Existing Affordability ConstraintsDespite solid income gains and lower home prices, Americans still continue to face major housing affordability challenges, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI).
May 21, 2025
Gains for Multifamily Missing Middle over Last YearThe missing middle construction sector includes development of medium-density housing, such as townhouses, duplexes and other small multifamily properties.