Mobile Elevated Work Platform Research

Ethical Approval

This study is approved by the NWP Research Ethics Board (REB). If you have any questions or concerns please contact the REB at Ethics@NWPolytech.ca or 780-539-2054.

Purpose and Objectives

The objective of the study is to assess participants on their ability to operate access equipment (Boom Lifts and Scissor Lifts) using the MEWP VR simulator. The information will be informed by the participant’s trade, work experience, and apprenticeship year.

What Will I Be Asked To Do?

Apprenticeship students in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th period and Computer Systems Technology (CST) Certificate and Diploma students as well as volunteers from other sectors are invited to participate. Interested participants are asked to complete this consent form and schedule 3 sessions on the simulator. Each session should take no more than 25 minutes. Please arrive at room TT119B in the Trades Building on the NWP Grande Prairie Campus at the scheduled time of your appointment. An onboarding facilitator will confirm your identity and instruct you on the safe operation of the machine. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may withdraw from the study at any time.

What Type of Personal Information Will Be Collected?

Should you agree to participate, please complete this consent form and schedule 3 sessions (with at least one day between each session) on the simulator. You may use a unique identifier (pseudonym) if you wish to remain anonymous and will be asked to complete the questions in the form below. After each session on the simulator, a summary report of your proficiency in the use the access equipment is automatically generated and sent to serious:labs®. This report includes the information on this consent form and identifies you only by your pseudonym. Your data will be encrypted and stored on local servers at serious:labs® and/or cloud servers located in Edmonton, Alberta.

There are no known or anticipated risks to you by participating in this research. Very rarely, some participants may experience simulator adaptation sickness, which is remedied by terminating the simulation and staying seated and resting for a few minutes. Please note that participants can terminate the simulation immediately at any time.

The potential benefits of your participation in this research include training on a MEWP VR simulator which may enhance the safe operation of access equipment on the worksite and reduce rates of workplace incidents and loss of life.

Students who complete all three training sessions will also be entered to win a $200 gift card for Best Buy.