Real-Time Monitoring of Physiological and Postural Parameters to Evaluate Human Reactions in Virtual Reality for Safety Training

In recent years, the application of ergonomics to workplace safety monitoring has gained increasing interest from companies and public institutions, allowing for the evaluation of the potential impact that dangerous situations may have on workers during their routine activities. This study presents a method for real-time monitoring of human physiological and motor responses to simulated workplace hazards during virtual reality safety training. The setup allows for precise measurements of both physiological and postural parameters during simulated scenarios. Moreover, a representative case study involving the sudden arrival of a forklift in a warehouse is presented. Five healthy participants were exposed to this scenario, with changes in heart rate variability and trunk posture being captured. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of sensor-based monitoring in detecting stress responses and postural adaptations to hazardous stimuli. This approach provides a basis for understanding human responses in simulated hazardous environments and may help to optimize safety training aimed at increasing workers’ risk perception and improving overall workplace safety. Although based on a small sample, the findings provide preliminary insights into the feasibility of sensor-based monitoring during VR safety training.