Virtual reality and augmented reality technology for safety training in high-risk industries: A literature review on applications, perspectives and challenges.

Background: High-risk industries such as construction, mining, and oil and gas consistently face significant safety challenges due to inherently hazardous operations. Traditional safety training methods prove inadequate as they cannot realistically simulate dangerous conditions. Objective: This rese...

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Publicado en:Work Vol. 84; no. 4; pp. 900 - 917
Autores principales: Abbas Al-Khafaji, Zahraa Khudhair, Keyhanian, Mahdis, Altalbawy, Farag MA, Jawad, Mohammed Abed, Saeed, Shakir Mahmood, Aldulaimi, Ahmed, Albadr, Rafid Jihad, Alwan, Mariem, Smerat, Aseel, Esmaeili, Sayed Vahid
Formato: review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Sage Publications Inc. Aug2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Aug2026
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        atl: Virtual reality and augmented reality technology for safety training in high-risk industries: A literature review on applications, perspectives and challenges.
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          Abbas Al-Khafaji, Zahraa Khudhair
          Keyhanian, Mahdis
          Altalbawy, Farag MA
          Jawad, Mohammed Abed
          Saeed, Shakir Mahmood
          Aldulaimi, Ahmed
          Albadr, Rafid Jihad
          Alwan, Mariem
          Smerat, Aseel
          Esmaeili, Sayed Vahid
        affil: College of Pharmacy, the Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
      sug:
        subj:
          Virtual Reality
          Augmented Reality
          Occupational Safety Education
          Industry
          Risk Assessment
          Occupational Hazards Risk Factors
          Educational Technology
          Simulations
          Learning
          Skill Retention
          Professional Competence
          Reaction Time
          Human Error Prevention and Control
          Accidents, Occupational Prevention and Control
          Construction Industry
          Mining
          Petroleum
          Extraction and Processing Industry
          Emergencies Education
          Equipment Safety
          Work Environment
          Data Security
          Motion Analysis Systems
          Cost Effectiveness Analysis
          Models, Structural
          Games
          Dosimetry
      ab: Background: High-risk industries such as construction, mining, and oil and gas consistently face significant safety challenges due to inherently hazardous operations. Traditional safety training methods prove inadequate as they cannot realistically simulate dangerous conditions. Objective: This research aimed to conduct a comprehensive review of the application of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies as innovative solutions for safety training in high-risk environments. Methods: A narraative literature review was performed using valid scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) from 2012 to 2025. The search employed broad keywords related to VR/AR and safety training. Studies were selected based on strict criteria including focus on non-medical, non-military applications in high-risk industries, robust methodology, and sufficient sample size. The snowballing technique was additionally used to identify relevant literature. Results: The analysis demonstrated that VR/AR-based simulations significantly enhance safety training effectiveness across multiple applications including hazardous environment training, emergency response scenarios, and complex task training. These technologies improve learner engagement, practical skill retention, hazard identification capabilities, and reaction times while reducing human errors. VR-trained workers consistently outperformed traditionally-trained counterparts in practical assessments. Implementation challenges include high costs, need for specialized instructor training, and scenario localization requirements. Conclusions: VR and AR technologies represent a transformative approach to safety training in high-risk industries, with demonstrated effectiveness in improving learning outcomes and safety preparedness. Future development should focus on creating cost-effective, cloud-based platforms and integrating artificial intelligence to enhance accessibility and adaptability, potentially leading to significant reductions in occupational injuries and advanced safety standards.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        review
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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