Working in a confined space is estimated to be 150 times more dangerous than performing the same task in the open air. Roughly 100 fatalities a year in Canada are attributed to working in confined spaces.

There is an urgent need to improve access to confined spaces training for manufacturing workers and in other sectors. The difficulty is that current confined spaces training is expensive and awkward, involving large-scale practice structures.

To overcome this problem, SASM has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association and White Rabbit VR to explore the development of using cutting-edge virtual reality technology to create effective confined spaces training at a low cost.

White Rabbit VR is a Regina-based technology company focused on developing virtual reality workplace skills and safety applications.

As the first stage of the MOU, SASM and SCSA are gathering industry feedback on the proposed product.  White Rabbit VR has created a demo version of the product that is available for SASM members to assess by appointment.