Fast Cheap and Easy: Using Second Life for Simulating

Safety Critical Operations in the Undergraduate Curriculum

E. Andrew Kapp PhD, CSP, CHMM, REM

Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety & Health

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Introduction

• Simulation software is NOT fast, cheap or easy to use

• But simulations provide powerful teaching tools

• Can simulations of safety critical operations be effectively done with Second Life ?

About Second Life

• User created, interactive, 3-D,web based virtual world

• Participants interact with each other and the environment their virtual “selves” known as Avatars

• The primary use of Second Life is social, and the types of interactions run the gamut from the educational to the lurid

About the Simulation

• Task: Enter recently emptied above ground petroleum storage tank to retrieve a defective sensor.

• Potential Hazards: Lack of oxygen, H2S, Flammable atmosphere

• Tools: Hard hat, lighting, personal 4 gas detector, forced air ventilation, Permit Space permit• No ability to flush or purge the tank

• Assistance:• Attendant measures pre-entry conditions in space,

monitors entrant and can call for rescue if necessary• Supervisor authorizes/cancels entry via permit

signature

The Simulation

• Learning Objective: Using an entry permit students will be able to identify hazards of a permit space and implement the appropriate protective measures to conduct a safe entry

• The Simulation

Results: Attempts

• 22 Students• Range: 2 -22• Mean: 6.6• Std. Dev: 4.8

Results: Permit Score

• 22 Students completed

• Range: 0 - 4• Mean: 2.9• Std. Dev: 1.4

Results: Student Feedback on Quality of the Learning

02468

10

Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Frequency

Results: Student Feedback

• In what ways did this simulation help you understand the importance and methods of evaluating the hazards associated with Permit Required Confined Spaces?• It helped me to realize that even if a space seems safe,

it can quickly become dangerous.• Help me understand what equipments needs to be used

and the process that goes through with entering a permit required space.

Results: Student Feedback

• In what ways did this simulation help you understand the importance and methods of evaluating the hazards associated with Permit Required Confined Spaces?• It didn't. It had no real life applicable parts. "go in and

grab a sensor before it blows up", horrible scenario. I didn't get anything out of it besides frustration and wanting to never use it again.

• it didn’t

Conclusion

• But did they learn anything?• They think so… most of them, for the most part• I remain unsure

Conclusion

• Did I learn anything?• Unavoidability of the logic system• Must integrate practice with Second Life into

class prior to any graded exercise

• Will I continue with this simulation and/or other uses of Second Life• Yes, as long as I have the technical assistance

available