learners the various components of scaffolding systems and their specific applications, it gives them valuable insights into recognizing and addressing potential hazards associated with scaffold use, and it teaches them the step-by-step process of erecting scaffold structures in a safe, virtual environment. Using both programs, Hinton Scaffold has been working closely with youth correctional facilities. In fact, they recently completed a demonstration in one of those facilities that proves how RISE training impacts new learners. “We put a group of youth from the correctional facility through the training and then, with permissions, brought the same real life scaffold components into the correctional facility and let the students rebuild the real scaffold based on what they learned in the virtual reality Scaffold Builder. It was a huge success. These students from varying disparate backgrounds recognized the scaffold components and they were able to complete the small rolling scaffold build without intervention.” “That was phenomenal to see,” Brandon says. “They went from zero-to-‘I can do this’ just based on virtual simulation experience. That shows that people can learn and gain experience in scaffolding just from virtual simulations.” Moving forward, Hinton Scaffold plans to continue building additional “micro-modules” for the trades, which will teach subject matter including handsignals, and knot tying for scaffolders and crane riggers. In collaboration with their public partners, they also intend to offer mandatory construction courses on their RISE platform, including working at heights (WAH) training courses, and WHMIS certificate courses and deeper scaffold training programs for every user and those pursuing a scaffolding career. They have established a notfor-profit entity to help deliver and facilitate those courses called ‘Tech To Trades,’ and they are currently working on acquiring funding to enable those courses to be delivered for free to the groups previously mentioned. “I truly see this training as the way of the future,” Brandon says. “Not just for scaffolding, but for all trades in general.” Though revolutionary for the construction industry, Brandon points out that this kind of training is actually the standard for other industries, and construction has been lagging behind: “Aerospace and flight schools have been doing this for 40 years. Simulations are where you start. You don’t go out and fly a plane right away. Surgeons are training in gaming and virtual environments to sharpen their skills. So it’s actually known that training like this works and the benefits are massive. As an industry, we need to catch up.” JUNE 2024
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