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 ?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. Results: Permit Score • 22 Students completed • Range: 0 - 4 • Mean: 2.9 • Std. Dev: 1.4

8. Results: Student Feedback on Quality of the Learning

9. 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.

10. 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", horriblescenario. I didn't get anything out of it besides frustration and wanting to never use it again. • it didn’t

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

12. 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