The Need: Agricultural Safety Education in Virtual Reality

Ensuring safety on farms is of paramount importance, yet traditional safety training methods often struggle to fully engage and prepare farmers for potential hazards. The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University (CFAES) recognizes the need for a more effective and immersive approach to agricultural safety education. Virtual reality technology emerges as a solution to bridge this gap, enabling agricultural safety professionals to educate and prepare farmers in a realistic and engaging manner. By leveraging virtual reality, the CFAES aims to enhance safety awareness and reduce accidents on farms, ultimately promoting a safer working environment for all.

The Technology: Virtual Reality for Farm Safety Training

The CFAES, in collaboration with Ohio State University Extension, has developed a cutting-edge virtual reality training system to educate farmers on farm safety practices. Through a 3-5 minute virtual experience, participants can simulate real-life scenarios, including commercial and industrial fall protection systems and practices, and the dangers of tractor roll-overs on the farm. By using advanced technology, such as heart rate monitors and cab cameras, the system assesses the realism of the training program, ensuring a more immersive and effective learning experience. This innovative approach to safety training aims to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills to identify hazards and choose appropriate safety equipment confidently.

Commercial Applications:

• Farm Science Review Demonstration: The technology will be showcased at the annual Farm Science Review, where attendees can experience virtual reality simulations of fall protection systems and tractor roll-over scenarios, driving home the importance of safety on the farm.

• Outreach and Education: The virtual reality training system offers a portable and engaging solution for outreach programs, allowing agricultural safety professionals to educate farmers and first responders on safety practices and grain bin rescues, regardless of location.

• Single Employee Training: Beyond group demonstrations, the technology can be utilized for personalized training, helping ag sector employees learn specific safety protocols tailored to their individual roles and responsibilities.

Benefits/Advantages:

• Enhanced Engagement: By replicating real-life scenarios, virtual reality training fosters a higher level of engagement, making safety education more memorable and impactful for participants.

• Safe Learning Environment: With virtual reality, trainees can experience dangerous situations without any physical risks, providing a safe space for learning and experimentation.

• Portability and Accessibility: Unlike traditional training setups, the lightweight and easily transportable virtual reality headsets enable convenient outreach and training at various locations, reaching a broader audience of farmers and first responders.

• Real-time Assessment: The integration of monitoring technology allows instructors to assess trainees' reactions in real-time, enabling better understanding and improvement of safety protocols.

• Comprehensive Safety Education: Through virtual reality, the technology empowers farmers to recognize potential hazards and select appropriate safety measures, contributing to a safer and more secure work environment on farms.