Safety is a very important aspect of residential construction and one that the members of the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association (MHBA) take very seriously. That is why the MHBA partnered with Manitoba’s Workers Compensation Board and the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) to develop four safety-awareness applications that will help workers, especially younger workers new to the industry, by increasing their awareness of certain safety issues and help facilitate safety training in our sector.
The MHBA safety apps, created locally by Bit Space Development of Winnipeg, aim to promote awareness around common safety issues and to enhance safety training programs. These apps are targeted for students looking at entering the residential construction workforce, as well as for workers new to the industry. They are available to anyone via Google Play and the Apple App Store for free download.
Our Confined Space Awareness virtual-reality app allows participants to experience confined-space sensations in a safe, non-threatening environment before getting into a difficult and uncomfortable situation. Through this simulation, participants enter a virtual confined space and identify unsafe situations. The app also indicates when additional training is required for the participant.
Our Fall Protection app focuses on the daily needs of employees who are working from heights, including information about the different types of fall protection, what personal protective equipment to use, emergency procedures and how to calculate fall clearances. This app includes 10 virtual-reality case studies as a pre-activity/assessment to the in-class discussion/practical application component of fall-protection training.
Our Scaffolding Awareness app covers the basics of scaffold safety in a fun game format. It is designed for tradespeople such as drywallers, siding and stucco installers, welders, millwrights, painters, power engineers, masons, insulators, ironworkers, or any other trade that commonly uses scaffolding as part of their jobs. This app promotes proper installation and safety when working with scaffolding through a fun and interactive game setting.
Our most immersive app is our Power Tools Virtual Reality Training app. Through this app, participants are able to properly prepare, examine and then use a range of power tools that are commonly used in residential construction. The Power Tools VR Training app was launched at the Manitoba Construction Career Expo last month and was a huge hit with the students attending the expo. Participants enter a virtual worksite, equip themselves with the proper protective equipment, examine the chosen tool to ensure it is safe to use and then use the virtual tool to complete a task.
All of these apps are great ways to promote construction safety, especially with students, and each app can be integrated into existing safety training for workers. Each app has an accompanying facilitator’s guide, developed by the Manitoba Construction Sector Council, to assist instructors and teachers on how to best use the app within a training program. By engaging young workers in fun and interactive ways, the MHBA continues to promote greater safety awareness within the residential construction sector.
Lanny McInnes is president of the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association
