Developing an interactive application with the virtual reality computer technology for investigating accident situations in the metal industry to be used in prevention

The main aim of the project consisted in developing an interactive application (further referred to as a tool for an interactive simulation of the operation of a lathe), which would make it possible to investigate accident situations to be used in prevention and training courses that develop safe work behaviours in lathe operators. This tool was developed using virtual reality, which makes it possible for a person immersed in the virtual environment to participate in a simulated process of lathing and in reconstructions of accident events in this environment.The initial phase of the project involved an analysis of typical causes of accidents in the metal industry and the development of a general action plan for creating a computer tool for an interactive simulation of the operation of a lathe. Guidelines for the development of this tool were formulated.A computer virtual reality working environment was created for simulating the operation of a lathe in a mechanical workshop. This environment was programmed regarding barriers between objects in the simulated working environment, the dynamics of the events present in the environment, interaction between the objects in the environment and in the scope of registering events present in the environment during a simulation. This made it possible to develop the tool for an interactive simulation of the operation of a lathe.