How stress and time spent on task affect safe behavior at work: evidence from experiment by simulating work in hazardous conditions in VR

Abstract

The rapid development of digital technologies has enabled significant advances in the training of workers working in hazardous conditions. VR technologies have made it possible not only to make the training process cheaper, but also to transfer it to a safe space. Employees, when working in hazardous conditions, often have to deal with complex technical operations and at the same time strictly follow safe work rules and work procedures. The paper examines the interaction of time spent on tasks, stress (based on biomarkers: HR, HRV, GSR), safe behavior in training skills by simulating work in dangerous conditions in VR. In doing this, 50 experiments were performed testing VR applications for work in hazardous conditions in the construction sector. The results of the study showed that time spent on tasks and stress influence the safe behavior at work (number of errors) when working in hazardous environments. Moreover, immersion in VR was assessed using the adapted Slater-Usoh-Steed questionnaire (SUS), and based on the interview after simulation, insights are provided on how to enhance the immersion in VR applications for training of workers working in hazardous conditions.

Keywords: VR, hazardous work, stress, safe behavior

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1003075