A Virtual Reality Assessment of Teamwork in Laboratory Safety

A variety of strategies have been introduced to tackle the issue of laboratory safety in academic settings. These strategies include innovative educational tools as students transition from the classroom into the laboratory, the introduction of policies designed to protect the researchers in the laboratory environment, and the creation of teams of peers at the departmental level that focus on creating a culture of safety. We recently developed, as a training exercise, virtual reality (VR) modules that replicate the visual and auditory complexities of authentic research laboratories (J. Chem. Educ. 2022, 99, 1982-1989). We have now used the VR environments to compare the relative abilities of individuals and of teams to identify laboratory hazards by quantifying several variables: time spent in the virtual environment, percentage of total hazards identified, percentage of hazards correctly characterized, number of attempts to identify hazards, and number of requests for assistance. In addition, an online survey was used to assess the perceptions of individual and team performances by the participants. Quantitative measures demonstrated the superior performances of teams versus that of individuals. Intriguingly, the smaller coefficient of variance associated with these metrics for teams (versus individuals) implies a group dynamic that suppresses outliers. Finally, results from the online survey reveal that the team format is perceived to be more effective than individuals in identifying hazards. However, team leaders were more subdued in their enthusiasm for the group format than were the members of their teams, which appears to be associated with subtle group dynamics.

Automated summary

Various strategies have been implemented to address laboratory safety concerns in academic settings, including innovative educational tools, protective policies, and the establishment of peer teams promoting a safety culture. Virtual reality modules have been developed as training exercises, replicating the complexities of real research laboratories. By comparing individuals and teams, it was found that teams performed better in identifying laboratory hazards, with a lower degree of variability. Additionally, team formats were perceived as more effective in hazard identification compared to individuals, although team leaders showed less enthusiasm for the group format due to subtle group dynamics.