Fast Cheap and Easy: Using Second Life for Simulating Safety Critical Operations in the Undergraduate Curriculum

1
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

2
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 ?

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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

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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

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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

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Results Attempts

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

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Results Permit Score

• 22 Students completed
• Range 0 - 4
• Mean 2.9
• Std. Dev 1.4

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Results Student Feedback on Quality of the
Learning
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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.

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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 didnt

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Conclusion

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

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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