The University of Queensland has teamed up with the construction and resources industries to help make hazardous work places safer.
Dr Jennifer Tichon, from the School of Human Movement Studies, is working with The Construction Training Centre (CTC), which in conjunction with the Mining Industry Skills Centre, has established a world-first simulator training facility for the construction and mining industries at Salisbury in Brisbane’s south.
Dr Tichon and her colleagues are undertaking research to ensure the validity and efficacy of the simulator training program that aims to prepare personnel to work safely in hazardous construction sites.
“Civil construction, critical to Australia’s economic growth, has significant safety issues and severe labor shortages,” Dr Tichon said.
“Simulation has been used successfully for many years in other industries such as aviation and the military, now industry using heavy plant will benefit.
“Our research will test and refine the simulator training to ensure it is valid and effective for heavy industry as well as assist in the development of accelerated training programs with improved safety outcomes.
“There is an important role for simulators in construction and mining to safely replicate critical, hazardous workplace events.
“Simulators offer a means of accelerating training and enabling staff to familiarise themselves with hazardous situations without the risk of injury.
The Simulation Centre is one of the first of its kind to make use of the opportunities offered by simulation technology to deliver highly skilled tradespeople to meet the demands of the burgeoning domestic labour economy.
The project is run in conjunction with the CTC and Mining Industry Skills Centre and was recently awarded an Australian Research Council Linkage grant. Total funding for the study is $765,000.
“The research, will place Queensland on the world map for simulation development for construction, mining and heavy industry,” Dr Tichon said.
Media: Dr Jennifer Tichon (07 3346 7302) or Andrew Dunne at UQ Communications (07 3365 2802 or 0433 364 181).
