CAN I BE CERTIFIED ON YOUR SIMULATOR?

Yes – Several certifications are currently available on the MEWP VR Simulator, without the need to use an actual MEWP. These include IPAF’s PAL+ advanced certification, renewal of IPAFS PAL cards, and Energy Safety Canada’s Certificate of Recognition (COR) for working at height. In addition, the simulators meet or exceed ISO, ANSI, and CSA certification standards and can be used to assess operators according to these standards. Simulator-based certification offers many advantages such as consistency, convenience, cost-effectiveness (for the provider and the trainee), and no need to stand on a MEWP in the pouring rain, freezing snow, or blowing wind.

HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD AN OPERATOR SPEND FAMILIARIZING THEMSELVES
WITH THE CONTROLS BEFORE TRAINING ON THE SIMULATOR?

Before operating any piece of equipment, an operator should go through a control’s familiarization, the MEWP VR Simulator requires that as well. The types of equipment used in the MEWP VR Simulator and their capabilities should also be described to the operator prior to use. Allow the operator to look at the physical controls and ask any questions about the
purpose and function of each control prior to dawning the VR headset. This process can take as little as a few minutes, though some operators may benefit from more detailed explanations.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT THE SUPPORTING LAPTOP IS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET?

We would recommend that the laptop be connected to the internet whenever the internet is available. This is handy for trainers and organizations to pull up reports from training reports from anywhere, provided they have internet and they have been approved to review reports. With the MEWP VR Simulator connected to the internet, the operator’s performance over multiple sessions can be compared, revealing any skills growth over time as well as ongoing skill gaps that should be addressed. Training records generated from the MEWP VR Simulator should be made available to the operator at any time – however, a disconnected MEWP VR Simulator will only store them locally on the laptop making it difficult to retrieve without access to the MEWP VR Simulator laptop.

Another important reason to connect the system to the internet is that when the MEWP VR Simulator laptop is connected, system data captured during the operation tells us how well the system is working for you. This is critical for the high-quality support we provide with each simulator – if there is a performance issue, we can refer to the system logs for your MEWP VR Simulator to quickly identify the underlying issue, getting you back up and running as efficiently as possible.

I HAVE HEARD THAT SIMULATORS CAN CAUSE CYBERSICKNESS, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT CYBERSICKNESS MEANS?

Cybersickness is similar to the motion sickness you might experience when riding in a vehicle or fairground ride. It comes from the discordance between what you experience in the simulation relative to what you feel in real life. Motion is a big contributor to cybersickness, and in turn, cybersickness limits the usability of many simulators out in the world. This is why Serious Labs has invested heavily in reducing cybersickness both through advanced motion controls and psychological science to build our virtual environments. WE’re world leaders in creating dynamic, highly mobile simulators that deliver realistic experiences with minimal cybersickness.

Even with all the science, we put into our simulators to reduce cybersickness, there are some people who will always experience it, just as there are some people who will always feel motion sick when riding on a rollercoaster or at the back of a bus. This percentage of the population is relatively small, about 5%. For them, simulation-based assessment and training may not be a good fit – or at least not yet! With our focus on data-driven improvement, we are always pushing the limits to help make simulation a comfortable experience for everyone.

IF I GET MOTION SICK/CAR SICK, SHOULD I TRY THIS SIMULATOR?

Yes! Motion sickness or car sickness should not prevent you from using Serious Labs VR Simulators. While motion sickness and cybersickness can feel similar, they are slightly different physiologically. Not everyone who gets motion sick gets cybersick, and vice-versa. In addition, our simulators are highly tuned to minimize the discomfort that could make you feel unwell. Even if you’ve felt sick after using another simulator before, not all simulators are equal, and we encourage you to see the higher quality and data-driven comfort that Serious Labs provides.

SHOULDN’T I BE WEARING A HARNESS AND FALL ARREST CORD FOR THE MEWP VR SIMULATOR?

Yes, you should be! The MEWP VR Simulator has been designed to meet OSHA standards for the rails and the anchors. Trainers are encouraged to provide a harness and fall arrest cord, and have operators practice tying down to the tie-down point before their sessions. This helps ingrain proper safety behaviors for MEWP operation.

WHY CAN’T I SEE MY HANDS IN THE MEWP VR SIMULATOR?

Hand tracking is relatively new in VR technology and is something that we are incorporating in our upcoming Commercial Vehicle VR Simulator. A future build of the MEWP VR simulator may also include hand tracking as well. For the time being, however, operators quickly get used to not seeing their hands and report that it doesn’t interfere with their learning and skills growth. We have done a lot of work to match the position of the digital controls with where the actual controls are, critical for proprioception (knowing where your hands are without looking) to work. The simulator’s hardware is calibrated to position the virtual controls precisely where you would expect to find them, and the users typically adapt to this within a few seconds.

DOES THE SIMULATOR FIT THROUGH A STANDARD UK DOOR?

The MEWP VR Simulator was designed to easily pass through a 32” doorway. If you are faced with a doorway that is 30” or smaller, the better option would be to find a different location to set up. It is possible to maneuver the MEWP VR Simulator through a 30″ doorway by tipping it with the gate open. However, we do not recommend this procedure as it adds a significant amount of instability and would require more than 2 people to perform.

DOES THE SIMULATOR HAVE LIFTING POINTS AS THE BUILDING DOESN’T HAVE AN ELEVATOR?

At 230lbs, the MEWP VR Simulator should not be carried up or down staircases. If an elevator is not available to assist in moving the MEWP VR Simulator between floors, it is our
recommendation that an area on the accessible floor should be used for setup and training. The simulator is not shipped with any professional moving devices such as a mover’s dolly or tiedown or lifting straps to navigate staircases. Please use common sense and best practices whenever moving heavy objects.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT THE HEADSET STEAM UP? (OFTEN LEFT SOMEWHERE COLD BEFORE USE)

Temperature is the primary cause for a foggy VR headset. The headset should match the ambient temperature where it will be used for training. Operators who are being trained or tested on the MEWP VR Simulator can be nervous causing perspiration and increase in skin temperature. Moisture on the face of an operator can cause the VR headset to fog up. Try to keep the temperature of the training area a bit on the cool side to reduce operator perspiration. Allow for the operator to remove the headset to wipe their face and the VR headset lenses should fogginess persist.