Abstract:

Chain-saw represents a very important tool for forest operations. It is used in activities such as tree felling, delimbing, bucking or slashing. On the other hand, chain-saw can be dangerous when it is not operated correctly or when the appropriate measures have not been put in place with regards to safety. In order to be able to demonstrate knowledge of hazards associated with chain-saw operation, engineering students need to participate in hands-on training to supplement their learning process. Hands on training would be ideal, but since students are not necessarily qualified to operate chainsaw, they just have to watch passively while the lecturer is carrying out different working activities. Currently, the use of immersive virtual reality is being widely applied in education and training. The purpose of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether training through VR simulator is comparable to traditional training in developing the skills necessary for performing identification of possible hazards related to chain-saw operation.

Keywords:

virtual reality, hazard, chain-saw.