The Roofing Alliance is funding a research program through Mississippi State University for virtual reality and safety research.
Roofing Alliance task force members have been holding virtual meetings with a team from MSU to develop a virtual reality training module for the roofing industry. They selected ladder safety and an overall assessment of rooftop safety as topics for the virtual reality module. The programs are aimed at new hires and entry-level workers with no previous experience. Participants using virtual reality will experience what it feels like to climb a relatively tall ladder and understand some of the key concepts of ladder safety. The task team also has worked with MSU to develop a building information modeling strategy for the research and deliverables.
MSU’s proposal, “Evaluating the Efficacy of Virtual Reality Technology for Improving the Roofing Construction Workers’ Safety,” was approved for funding in April 2020.
For more information about submitting funding requests, contact Bennett Judson, the Roofing Alliance’s executive director, at bjudson@roofingalliance.net or visit www.roofingalliance.net.
