Is Virtual PPE Monitoring the Future of Safety?

A virtual safety officer (VSO) could be a game-changer in keeping healthcare workers safe. These officers could help ensure that workers follow the rules for putting on and taking off personal protective equipment (PPE). This is crucial for preventing the spread of diseases. But can a VSO really do the job as well as a human safety officer? To find out, a study was conducted. Five experienced safety officers were asked to watch actors putting on and taking off PPE. They noted any mistakes using a checklist. This was done in person first, and then again a month later using recordings of the same sessions. The results were interesting. The officers were more accurate when watching the recordings than when they were there in person. However, they agreed less often on what they saw when watching the recordings. This suggests that a VSO could be a useful tool. But there are still challenges. The officers didn't always agree on what they saw, especially when watching the recordings. This could be because it's harder to see everything on a screen. To make VSOs even better, future work could use real-time observation. This means watching what's happening as it happens, not from a recording. Also, 360-degree cameras and virtual reality (VR) could be used. These technologies could give a better view of what's happening, making it easier for the VSO to spot mistakes. Augmented reality (AR) could also be helpful. This technology overlays information onto the real world, which could make it easier to see what's happening. But before VSOs can be widely used, more research is needed. It's important to make sure that they can do the job as well as human safety officers. Also, it's important to make sure that they can be used in a way that's fair and respectful to workers. After all, the goal is to keep everyone safe.