1. Scaffolding Safety Module

1.1. Free mode

Free mode allows the user to move freely around the scaffolding. All the dangers available on the scaffolding are present, and fatal outcomes occur if the user gets too close to one of the dangers.

The purpose of this exercise is to raise the learner’s awareness of the dangers linked to poorly assembled scaffolding; the user will not have the option of securing the dangers he encounters. His objective, defined by the trainer in Vulcan, will be to reach a target floor while spending a defined amount of time in the simulation.

The student can leave the exercise at any time by clicking on the cross on the tablet on his left wrist.

Fatal error
Figure 1. Fatal error

1.1.1. Exercise evaluation criteria

image Floor goal: Reach the floor objective

image Survival time: Exceed the time objective "Time to accident"

1.2. Reception exercises

The Reception exercises come in four variants:

  1. Facade scaffolding (guided mode)

  2. Facade scaffolding (assessment mode)

  3. Multidirectional scaffolding (guided mode)

  4. Multidirectional scaffolding (assessment mode)

In these exercises, the user must evaluate the quality of the scaffolding assembly and flag any flaws for correction.
In guided mode, the user is helped at every step and is invited to correct any mistakes as he goes along, in order to assimilate best practices.
In assessment mode, the actions to be performed are similar, but the user’s mistakes are checked at the end of the exercise instead.

1.2.1. Exercise evaluation criteria

image Analysis: relevance of the user’s answers during the preparation phase

image Scenario: validation of all the steps that make up the scenario

image Dangers identification: relevance of the user’s answers during the preparation phase

image Execution time: ability to finish the scenario within a defined time

1.2.2. Preparing the intervention

At the start of the exercise, the mission order giver presents a briefing to the learner. On this screen, the user can use a button to have the briefing read aloud by the simulator’s built-in speech synthesis.

Exercise instructions
Figure 2. Briefing

1.2.3. Selecting the weather

After validation, a weather bulletin appears. The user must determine whether the weather conditions are favourable for working on the site.

Exercise instructions
Figure 3. Weather screen

1.2.4. Preparing the equipment

Turn to the left and an open locker is visible with an interface enabling the user to choose the equipment to wear. If the user makes a poor choice, it is highlighted, and the user must correct the mistake before moving on to the next phase. Once the user has selected the equipment, click on the checkmark on the right of the screen.

Select PPE
Figure 4. Select PPE

The correct PPE is:

Hat

Hardhat with strap

Glasses

Protective glasses

Earmuffs

Ear protectors

Coveralls

Coveralls

Gloves

Protective gloves

Boots

Safety boots

Harness

Harness

1.2.5. Selecting the scaffolding

The user is automatically teleported to the site, facing two scaffoldings. He must choose the one that corresponds to the exercise specified during the briefing by teleporting to its dedicated marker.

Location
Figure 5. Choice of scaffolding

1.2.6. Securing access

Before his intervention, the user must secure access to the scaffolding under reception.
The PPE selection screen appears and the user must pick up the caution tape by clicking the interaction button. It must then be placed at the entrance of the scaffolding to block access, by pointing at the location and clicking the interaction button again.

Ppe
Figure 6. Select the warning tape
Tape
Figure 7. Warning tape at the entrance of the facade scaffolding

For multidirectional scaffolding, the tape must be positioned in front of the steps of the first level.

1.2.7. Checking the anchors

The user will then confirm that the scaffolding anchors are correctly positioned. To do this, he can view the scaffolding plan and visually check compliance. To help with this step, a "highlight anchors" button will highlight the anchors in blue.

Anchors
Figure 8. Highlighting the anchors to ensure compliance with the construction plans

1.2.8. Identifying dangers

Here, the aim is to methodically identify all scaffolding assembly flaws, floor by floor. All flaws must be identified before the user is allowed to move up to the next floor. Faults are generated randomly according to the instructions given by the trainer on the Vulcan platform, so each session is different for each user. Using a laser, the user will highlight the parts he considers to be defective or poorly assembled. The parts selected by the user appear highlighted in cyan.

Select part
Figure 9. Highlighting a defective part

It is during this phase that correction occurs in Guided mode: if some flaws have not been identified by the user, the trap door will not open, and the forgotten flaws will be highlighted in red, with a message indicating the mistake. The student must correct all his mistakes before being able to reach the next level.

Guided hint
Figure 10. Flaw highlighted in red

Once the user has identified all the flaws on a floor, he moves on to the next floor by using the ladder and going through the trap door.

1.2.9. Possible flaws on facade scaffolding

Part Flaw Photo

Anchors

Incorrect anchors

Anchor fault

Base jack

Missing nails

Missing nails

Tray

Deformed retaining hook

Deformed hook

Deformed tray

Deformed plank

Oxidized tray

Rusty plank

Retaining hook poorly engaged

Deformed hook

Walk-through frame

Deformed

Deformed frame

Oxidized

Rusty frame

Guard rail

Deformed

Deformed guard rail

Oxidized

Rusty guard rail

Toe board

Poorly engaged

Toe board

Trap door landing

Broken rung

Broken rung

Broken hook

Broken hook

1.2.10. Possible flaws on multidirectional scaffolding

Part

Flaw

Photo

Base jack

Missing nails

Missing nails

Tray

Deformed retaining hook

Deformed hook

Deformed tray

Deformed plank

Oxidized tray

Rusty plank

Retaining hook poorly engaged

Deformed hook

Horizontal tube

Cotter pin poorly positioned

Top rail hook

Toe board

Wrongly positioned

Toe board

Trap door landing

Broken rung

Broken rung

Broken hook

Broken hook

1.3. Usage exercises

These exercises allow the user to practice using scaffolding as different trades. The scaffolding is considered to have already been received and inspected. The purpose of the exercise is therefore to acquire good daily practices such as:

  • PPE management

  • Sign verification

  • Moving between floors

  • Obstacle management

Usage mode comes in four variations corresponding to different trades:

  1. Finishing

  2. Construction studies

  3. Structural work

  4. Wood framing

Each trade will be required to work in a different zone:

Trade start
Figure 11. Location of the different operations

1.3.1. Exercise evaluation criteria

image Analysis: relevance of the user’s answers during the preparation phase

image Scenario: validation of all the steps that make up the scenario

image Dangers identification: ability to see and correct obstacles in the user’s path

image Execution time: ability to finish the scenario within a defined time

1.3.2. Starting the exercise

1.3.3. Preparing the intervention

At the start of the exercise, the mission order giver presents a briefing to the learner. On this screen, the user can use a button to have the briefing read aloud by the simulator’s built-in speech synthesis.

Exercise instructions
Figure 12. Briefing

1.3.4. Selecting the weather

After validation, a weather bulletin appears. The user must determine whether the weather conditions are favourable for working on the site.

Exercise instructions
Figure 13. Weather screen

1.3.5. Preparing the equipment

Turn to the left and an open locker is visible with an interface enabling the user to choose the equipment to wear. If the user makes a poor choice, it is highlighted, and the user must correct the mistake before moving on to the next phase. Once the user has selected the equipment, click on the checkmark on the right of the screen.

Select PPE
Figure 14. Select PPE

The correct PPE is:

Hat

Hardhat with strap

Glasses

Protective glasses

Earmuffs

Ear protectors

Coveralls

Coveralls

Gloves

Protective gloves

Boots

Safety boots

Harness

Harness

1.3.6. Arriving on site

The user is automatically teleported to the site, facing two scaffoldings. He must choose the one that corresponds to the exercise specified during the briefing by teleporting to its dedicated marker.

Location
Figure 15. Choice of scaffolding

Before climbing onto the scaffolding, the user must ensure that its specifications comply with the requirements of the trade chosen at the start of the exercise. The user must read the sign to verify that the maximum load is allowed:

  • Finishing: scaffolding bearing 200kg/m² or more

  • Construction studies: scaffolding bearing 150kg/m² or more

  • Structural work: scaffolding bearing 600kg/m² or more

  • Wood framing: scaffolding bearing 450kg/m² or more

Ensure scaffolding
Figure 16. Ensure the scaffolding is acceptable

If the maximum load indicated on the sign is not sufficient for the user’s intervention, the value is automatically corrected so the exercise can continue.

1.3.7. Climbing the scaffolding

The user can now climb the scaffolding. The simulator will evaluate his ability to move around safely, in particular his ability to close each trap door behind him. The user must move to the work area indicated by a red icon.

Work area
Figure 17. Red icon on a work area

1.3.8. Clearing obstacles

On the way to his objective, the user may encounter obstacles: heavy loads or materials blocking the passage. In this case, he will have to point at the object and click the interaction button to put it back in its place.

Obstacles
Figure 18. Obstacles on the scaffolding

1.3.9. Moving to the purple circle

Once he has reached the intervention site, the user must walk to the purple circle. A sound confirms that the work went well.

Purple circle
Figure 19. Stand on the purple circle

1.3.10. Climbing down

The user must then climb down the scaffolding, always respecting all the safety rules. It is impossible to teleport from the top of the scaffolding. Move to the purple circle where the exercise started, and the user will then be teleported to the locker room where the results are displayed. The exercise is now complete.

1.4. Evaluation / Exercises in evaluation mode

In evaluation mode, the user receives no hints, and mistakes are checked at the end of the exercise. The evaluation criteria are as follows:

image Analysis: relevance of the user’s answers during the preparation phase

image Scenario: validation of all the steps that make up the scenario

image Dangers identification: ability to recognize assembly flaws and obstacles

image Execution time: ability to finish the scenario within a defined time

For the facade and multidirectional scaffolding evaluation, the user is required to find all the flaws, but no hints are given. If the user misses a flaw, it is considered a fatal error, and the evaluation is immediately stopped and the student fails. Once the user has completed all seven floors, he moves to the purple circle at the end of the scaffolding to be teleported to the locker room where the results are displayed.

Teleport zone
Figure 20. Teleport zone at the top of the scaffolding

1.5. Vulcan exercise settings

The default exercise settings cannot be modified, but it is possible to create editable copies of the exercises on Vulcan, and then modify the parameters. This allows the trainer to change the weighting of each parameter’s score (coefficient) based on different criteria. The parameters that can be modified are as follows:

Exercise name: allows the exercise name to be modified as it will be displayed in the simulator

Difficulty: corresponds to the exercise level; it is important not to modify this parameter when copying a default exercise (beginner=free mode, advanced=guided mode, expert=evaluation mode)

Validation threshold: minimum score required to pass the exercise

Inclusion threshold: score below which the exercise result will not be taken into account

1.5.1. Sensors

This table shows how to configure the sensors and their target minimum and maximum allowed values.

Min

Target

Max

Free mode

Floor objective

0

Number of floors the user must reach to pass the exercise

7 (there are 7 floors)

Time (before an accident)

The minimum time in seconds the user must spend in the exercise; anything below this will result in 0

Duration of the exercise in seconds from which the score will be 100%

Unlimited, but must be set to a number

Reception and Usage

Execution time (seconds) (applies only to Reception and Usage)

0

anything below this threshold will result in a score of 100%

any time spent on the exercise above this value, which will result in 0%

The non-adjustable sensors are as follows:

  • Analysis

  • Securing

  • Identification

1.5.2. Simulation variables

It is possible to modify certain variables in the editable copy of the exercise in order to adapt to the exercise’s difficulty and complexity. They are as follows:

  • Defects on floor (+ floor concerned): number of defects randomly generated on the floor concerned.

  • Enable fatal errors: when this function is activated, a fatal error occurs if the user has forgotten to identify a fatal error on the current scaffolding floor

  • Obstacle on floor (+ floor concerned): number of obstacles to randomly generate on the floor concerned.