PRISM Video: Why VR Training Makes Sense for Construction: A study with major Irish construction companies.

At PRISM ‘25 Nadine Seward delivered a presentation on the application of Virtual Reality to training in the construction industry. Nadine is a start-up founder (currently on the UCC IGNITE Entrepreneurship Programme) who worked with Clancy Construction for 7 months during her Industrial Placement with SETU Waterford, where she gained experience in areas such as Piling, Pre-cast, and Health & Safety. The following is a summary of her presentation which you can watch in full in the video below.

Context

• Construction is one of the most dangerous industries globally.

• In Ireland alone, 38 fatalities occurred on construction sites between 2020–2024.

• High-risk factors include:

  • Working at extreme heights

  • Operating around heavy machinery

  • Numerous other hazards

Problem with Traditional Training

• Conventional training is often:

  • Boring

  • Disengaging

  • Easily forgotten

• This issue is common across industries like healthcare, oil & gas, energy, and pharmaceuticals.

Benefits of VR Training

• Knowledge retention: Increases by 30–75%

• On-site accidents: Reduced by 40%

• Safety awareness: Improves by 30%

• Training time: Up to 80% faster

• Allows safe, hands-on experience without real-world consequences.

Real-World Feedback

• Ongoing study with major Irish construction companies:

  • 93% of participants want to use VR again.

  • 90% believe VR improves safety training and site safety.

  • Positive feedback from both company directors and ground workers.

Why It Works

• Immersive environment enables:

  • Mistakes without consequences

  • Practical experience that traditional methods cannot offer

• Goal: Prevent accidents and send people home safe

Closing Thought

• If VR training makes sense for construction, it likely makes sense for other high-risk industries too.