London Southbank University is developing a site health and safety training VR tool that can target a user's weak spots.

The tool, presented as a VR game, is married to a psychometric test that the user must take before using the tool, ensuring they experience bespoke challenges each time they engage with the system.

The project is led by LSBU’s Dr Zulfikar Adamu. Some similar VR training tools are in development across the construction industry, however he notes his system’s unique qualities: the psychometric test approach means that each trainee gets a customised training regime, while its game-like feel will encourage regular engagement for continuous development. Indeed, Dr Adamu refers to the tool as being part of the 'serious game' genre, and thus someone using it is a player.

Each time a player starts the game, they must answer about 60 questions based on the established Big Five 'OCEAN' psychometric test. 'OCEAN' stands for five key behavioural traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism.

Dr Adamu explains: "We all display different aspects of those five traits. The game reviews the player’s answers to the questionnaire and establishes which of the categories are critical, and then formats the order and intensity of game’s health and safety hazards around those areas."

One of Dr Adamu’s possible visions for use of the game is site staff being required to play the game once a month as a regular refresher, with the player’s results available to be reviewed by a health and safety professional. There is no current plan for the player’s psychometric test results to be made available to a third party but it is not impossible for the results to be used to determine the premium for a construction worker's/player’s health insurance, for example.

Initially developed with funding from the Royal Charter International Research Award (supported by the BRE Trust and the Worshipful Company of Contractors), the project now needs a second round of funding to get to full market trials.

Dr Adamu concludes: "If we get that funding, then it should be ready to be trialled by the market in the final quarter of 2021."

For further details visit the Chartered Institute of Building website here.

For more information, watch Dr Adamu’s video about the project here.