Application of immersive technologies for occupational safety and health management in the construction industry

The construction industry contributes about 6% to the global economy and 7% to global employment. It erects infrastructures that humans and other industries need. However, the industry is inherently dangerous, based on its poor occupational safety and health (OSH) statistics. Manual handling is a significant construction hazard which causes musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), accounts for over 50% of work-related illness among construction workers in the United Kingdom. Unlike other industries, the construction industry is inherently dynamic and evolving with frequent changes in terrain and materials, with workers exposed to physically demanding tasks, intensifying MSDs risks. Literature, including government-based reports, have revealed that training and education is essential in addressing the poor OSH performances of the industry, especially as regards manual handling to mitigate MSDs. Literature has also revealed that immersive technologies (ImTs), especially virtual reality (VR) hold promise in the training and education of construction workers on manual handling to mitigate MSDs. However, there has been limited research in the area of the application of VR for the training and education of construction workers on manual handling to prevent or minimise the risks of MSDs among the workers. This PhD study therefore investigates the potential of ImTs, especially VR, in addressing manual handling and MSDs among construction workers via training and education. To investigate the application of VR in mitigating MSDs caused by manual handling among construction workers, this study adopted a qualitative research strategy. Subsequently, design science research strategy (DSRS) was selected as the qualitative strategy for this study. This methodology consists of three phases, which commenced with the identification of the problem as the poor OSH performance of the construction industry. The first phase also includes the requirements capturing, which includes the review of relevant literature and manual handling training materials, participation in manual handling training sessions and interviews with experts in OSH, necessary in the development of training content on manual handling and MSDs. The second phase involved the design and development of the VR-based training tool, also known as "Virtual Handling (VH)" using Blender modelling software, Unity game engine and Oculus Quest 2 headset and controllers, while the third and final phase is the evaluation of VH based on the perspectives of OSH experts and construction workers, who are familiar with the conditions unique to construction sites, based on the interviews conducted. The complexities of manual handling in construction necessitate the insights from the participants and also alleviate the risks of introducing misaligned perspectives that may not adequately capture the nuances of manual handling activities in construction sites. The findings of this study have revealed that ImTs, especially VR, can be useful in complementing the conventional methods of training construction workers on manual handling, such as lectures, on-the-job training, and PowerPoint presentations. The information contained in VH was clear and straightforward and could provide participants with the suitable manual handling skills necessary to prevent or minimise MSDs among construction workers. Moreover, the familiarisation of VH by users and further improvements are useful in enhancing manual handling training. Meanwhile, the methodology proposed in this study can assist other developers in designing and developing similar tools for the construction industry. It has also been revealed that the VH users generally experienced minimal simulation effects such as headaches, eye strain, and sweating. This supports the tool's user friendliness and positive user experience attributes. Further research has been recommended, including comparing the effectiveness of VR to other ImTs such as augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) in delivering anual handling training. Further works should also develop multi-user platforms that allow for collaborative training among construction workers in a shared virtual space. Moreover, future studies could investigate VR-based training on manual handling in other national contexts for comparative investigation.