Assessing chemical industry employees using immersive virtual environment

Abstract

The highly complex nature of chemical process industry necessitates regular, updated, and relevant training for chemical operators to ensure that they are equipped to perform their functions. Hence, this study proposes the use of immersive virtual reality (IVR) in chemical industries, as they can facilitate effective training in a safe and controlled environment. Following the rapid advancement and growing market of IVR, it becomes necessary to develop an unbiased, and unobtrusive assessment design in this environment. The literature review conducted in this study suggests that VR-based health and safety training, vis-à-vis the conventional methods, is more effective in developing and enhancing the reaction, learning, and behavioural levels of trainees. As to the behavioural intention to adopt IVR, data collected and analysed from 438 respondents, who were grouped according to prior IVR experience, nationality, and length of work experience, shows no statistically significant differences among the groups. Since there is lack of development of a systematic assessment framework that is tailored-fit for IVR, this study proposed an assessment structure incorporating and harmonizing appropriate methodologies. The proposed framework uses Dreyfus model, which provides for the progression of a novice to expert, incorporates evidence-centred design (ECD), to provide logistical and evidentiary links from collected data to the desired evaluation construct, and integrates fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to further enhance the resolution of levels in Dreyfus model. This framework was tested and validated through an IVR-training prototype called ‘Operate Your Own Reactor’, which was specifically created for this study, in ACTA (Belgium). Lastly, the study discovered that in terms of attitude, satisfaction based on content, and behavioural intention, there are no significant differences whether trainees are presented with simplified or detailed assessment results. Nonetheless, trainees are found to prefer the latter as it helps them improve further. Keywords: Virtual reality, Chemical industry, Health and safety training, Expertise Development, Assessment, Adoption intention