Fonterra has partnered with technology firm Beca to develop a virtual reality health and safety training programme.
Fonterra says the new technology allows employees to navigate the co-operative’s manufacturing and distribution sites without the need to visit the facilities, reducing the time it takes to train new employees.
Previously, all of Fonterra’s health and safety training was conducted on site, but a successful pilot of the technology means that the virtual reality training programme will replace most of the hands-on training.
The application has been tailored to each of Fonterra’s sites, and employees will need to complete a range of health and safety modules using the technology.
Fonterra director of health and safety, resilience and risk Greg Lazzaro said: “The opportunities for VR are significant. With this solution, we can replicate the physical environment of our sites, so staff can undertake virtual health and safety training in an extremely immersive and realistic way.
“That means our people can learn about and identify potential hazards more quickly than ever, encouraging more engaged employees and better workplace safety.
“While our health and safety performance continues to improve we are always looking for ways to reduce risk to our employees. Using VR means our people can experience hazards in a realistic simulated environment, enhancing learning experiences, without being put in harm’s way.”
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