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Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2019

It’s Our Reality: the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) Announces First of Its Kind Hazard ID VR Available

REGINA, SK, March 28, 2019 – After months of planning, development and testing, the SCSA is proud to announce that the Hazard ID VR training tool developed in partnership with White Rabbit VR, a division of Twisted Pair Productions, is being made available to member companies through demonstrations and in the classroom. SCSA members and students now have the opportunity to be enveloped in a realistic, 360 degree alternate reality for workplace training. This training tool allows users to spot hazards more effectively and in a variety of scenarios that wouldn’t be as readily available within the confines of traditional classroom training. The Hazard ID VR is one of the first of its kind for the Saskatchewan construction industry.

“This changes the game for us in so far as building stronger impressions in learning. It gives the user experience in navigating dangerous situations and developing safety management systems in a safe way,” explains, Collin Pullar, president of the SCSA.

Pullar elaborates, “We have learned over the years that telling people how to stay safe isn’t enough to overhaul a culture that has historically struggled with safety; anything that is going to affect a change in an organization and a province has to be done at the leadership level. The sad reality is that 25% of the injury claims to WCB in our industry, involve a young worker under the age of 25 and the SCSA has a key role to play in supporting business owners and leaders in their injury prevention efforts for this demographic.”

Through the use of technology, modernizing product and service delivery has been a major strategic focus of the SCSA over the last year.  A new mobile Hazard Assessment Tool and ten additional safety topics were added to the SCSA’s Guide to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Legislation app, which has become a popular tool that has tracked more than 3,800 downloads since its launch in September of 2017. Inside the SCSA classrooms, projects introducing tablet devices and virtual reality (VR) training tools are taking the delivery of safety training and information retention to a whole new level.

"The secret of the success of Hazard ID VR has been the partnership business model between White Rabbit VR and SCSA. We know virtual reality. SCSA knows safety. Together, we’ve created a marketable, state-of-the-art training tool that will help improve safety training, not only for SCSA, but for construction companies and training institutions across Saskatchewan and Canada," said Mike MacNaughton, president and CEO of Twisted Pair/White Rabbit VR.

To mark the release of the SCSA’s Hazard Identification Virtual Reality Tool, the SCSA has partnered with the Saskatoon Industry-Education Council (SIEC) for a live demonstration with students on Tuesday, April 9^th, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Walter Murray Collegiate in Saskatoon (1905 Preston Ave S). MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.

About the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is an industry-funded, membership-based, non-profit organization that provides cost-effective, accessible safety training and advice to employers and employees in the construction industry throughout the province to reduce the human and financial losses associated with injuries. Registered March 22, 1995 the SCSA is, and has been since inception, committed to injury prevention. Serving almost 10,000 member companies, the major business units of the association are Advisory Services, Business Development, Corporate Services, Program Services and Training Services. 

About White Rabbit VR, a division of Twisted Pair Productions

White Rabbit VR is a Regina-based enterprise offering a full range of virtual reality solutions including museum displays, tourism videos and training applications. Its parent company, Twisted Pair Productions, has over 25 years of experience in media production and launched the VR division in 2016.

About the Saskatoon Industry-Education Council

The Saskatoon Industry-Education Council is a bridge between Saskatchewan’s career opportunities and Saskatoon area youth. Through a partnership among business, secondary and post-secondary schools, unique hands-on career exploration events and programs are designed and delivered to students, helping them find a career that connects their passion and natural talents with current and future workforce needs.

For more information, or to arrange for an interview with Collin Pullar, please contact:

Terri Larsen
Marketing Coordinator

Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association
terril@scsaonline.ca
306.525.0175 ext. 232