Kirby Risk Summer 2022_Digital

CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

employees. Construction companies are utilizing AR/VR to teach underqualified workers new skills while receiving virtual hands-on experience. “VR training allows construction business owners the ability to train their new hires without additional staff time, resources or having to be dependent on the weather. VR training allows businesses to save major time, resources and money. For example, a new hire in a commercial property inspection department can put on the VR goggles and be transported to a 500,000-square-foot roof to learn how to do a full-scale damage assessment,” as stated in Construction Business Owner. A worker education experience prototype, Skill-XR, is currently being developed by Purdue University in collaboration with National Science Foundation. This technology includes a range of AR and VR as well as extended reality, or XR. The Skill-XR team partnered with many Indiana construction/manufacturing companies, including Kirby Risk, to begin testing in a virtual real-world environment. Chief Innovation Officer for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, David Roberts stated in a Control Engineering article, “We’re focused on supporting strategic initiatives like the Skill-XR technology to develop a diverse and skilled workforce in Indiana, equipping Hoosiers with the industry-focused skills and training needed for the future.” AR/VR training is not only vital to closing the skilled labor gap but has become a cornerstone in preventing employee injuries on the jobsite. Safety and Health Magazine reports that new employees are three times more likely to be injured on the jobsite within the first month due to lack of safety education or training. Utilizing AR/VR training opportunities allows new employees to learn about safety procedures and how to identify potential hazards without being put at risk. Electrical construction has been an industry leader for integrating virtual technologies in their educational programs and safety training. Professional electrician and electrical technology instructor, Keith Glenn, has partnered with Siemens to help expand his current program with AR/VR. This revolutionary teaching tool allows instructors to provide proper LEARNING SAFELY

training and education that would not typically be available to students and in a safe environment.

“I can’t go buy a $13,000 piece of switch gear for my students to tear apart and reassemble, and I can’t buy protective suits for every student for them to learn how to wear PPE properly,” Glenn says. “The VR gives them a look at things we don’t have in the classroom — giving us so many learning opportunities we didn’t have before. Some of my students were assembling low voltage pieces in the VR without my help at all.”

SOLUTION DRIVEN

Moving forward, AR/VR will become increasingly more popular for building employee skills across the construction industry. This technology is a valuable asset in closing the skilled labor gap by providing hands-on training for newly hired employees and even continued education for seasoned workers.

THE FUTURE OF VIRTUAL REALITY IN THE WORKPLACE Your company’s open positions are in danger of staying open. Almost every industry is currently battling a workforce shortage. In the face of the pandemic, major labor disruptions began to emerge — the most prominent disruption being The Great Resignation.

Additional benefits of AR/VR include: Improved employee safety Saves company time and resources Increases employee efficiency Enhanced product quality

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The Great Resignation was a wave of nearly 47-million workers leaving their jobs in 2021. Rather than disappearing from the labor pool, a majority of workers simply moved to another work environment in pursuit of improved work-life balance and flexibility, increased compensations and a strong company culture. In combination with The Great Resignation, another interruption emerged among aging members of the workforce known as The Great Retirement. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reported that in 2021 an estimated 4.2-million Baby Boomers retired — a 10% increase since the start of the pandemic. The progression of these labor disturbances caused an unexpected gap of skilled laborers, and it threatens to get much worse.

like construction. The 2021 U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Commercial Construction report shows that 92% of contractors report moderate to high levels of difficulty finding skilled workers. Although this gap has many contributing factors, the main culprit is aging workers leaving positions that require years of hands-on experience and knowledge. Finding qualified replacements for these now open positions is becoming increasingly more difficult. Some companies have been forced to place inexperienced workers in these skilled positions, significantly increasing safety risks. A 2020 AGC Survey reveals that 57% of contractors say the skilled labor shortage is the biggest challenge to worker health and safety. Proper training and hands-on experience are vital to keeping employees safe and growing the work force.

Are you looking for flexible employee education opportunities? From basic electrical training to advanced courses on automation products, Kirby Risk can help provide the right education solutions to fit your needs. Connect with your Kirby Risk Account Manager to learn more!

CLOSING THE GAP

SKILLED WORKERS GAP

To combat the skills gap, innovative companies are investing in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology to provide flexible education and training opportunities for their

A massive skilled labor shortage continues to tear its way through the job market, severely impacting industries

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