ANSI-compliant virtual reality training launched

Serious Lab’s MEWP Simulator in use. (IMAGE: Serious Labs)

Virtual reality specialist Serious Labs has launched a new virtual reality (VR) MEWP operator training simulation that is compliant with both ANSI and ISO standards.

The Canada-based company’s new ANSI Compliant Assessment Scenario has been custom-designed for MEWP 3b ANSI A92.24 and ISO 18878:13 specified boom lift competencies.

According to Serious Labs, operators that complete the scenario with a minimum proficiency of 80% will no longer be “required to touch the actual equipment to finalize their training”.

Wallace Judd, PhD, President, Authentic Testing Corporation and former ANSI Assessor, said, “Serious Labs has effectively created a virtual environment that will test operators’ MEWP skills in VR to a high degree of reliability. 

Now available in the US, Canada, Mexico and Central and South America, the ANSI Compliant Assessment Scenario allows trainee operators to experience situations that “would be difficult to set up in a real-life training space – the very reason traditional trainers struggle to meet the ANSI Standards”.

The ANSI Compliant Assessment Scenario allows MEWP operators train in safety. (IMAGE: Serious Labs)

The VR system, which enables operators to train without any risk to safety, details the MEWP operator’s techniques and behaviour, allowing the trainer to identify and focus on specific areas that they may need to improve.

“How operators perform in this virtual test is going to correlate very closely to their skills and capabilities on a real boom lift, to the point of being usable for certifying operators. The test carefully and faithfully measures the qualities that ANSI asks for in a proficient MEWP operator,” said Judd.

The launch of the new training for articulated and telescopic boom lifts was described as a “breakthrough” for the access industry - one that would benefit “North American and many international training entities, rental companies, subcontractors, unions and airline maintenance technicians”.

(IMAGE: Serious Labs)