## 4 Results and Discussions
### Applications in Occupational Health and Safety in Manufacturing
#### 4.2.3 Immersive Safety Training  
Emerging immersive technologies (VR, AR, and XR) are revolutionizing immersive safety training in manufacturing by offering effective, safe, and engaging alternatives to traditional methods. These technologies are essential for providing safe, risk-free training, reducing accidents, and enhancing situational awareness in hazardous environments. Table 8 provides an overview of the key benefits and applications of using these immersive technologies for interactive safety training in industrial settings. VR provides a compelling platform for simulating hazardous scenarios and complex operations, allowing workers to safely experience realistic situations and build confidence without real-world consequences [32; 40]. This includes recreating high-risk environments,  
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such as chemical or steel plants, for risk-free practice. For example, an immersive safety training program uses a 3D virtual replica of a steel plant's casting bay, where operators learn through VR experiences involving material transfer with electric overhead travelling cranes [71]. Furthermore, VR significantly improves skill transfer, retention, and overall training effectiveness, leading to fewer accidents than traditional methods [8; 62]. For example, VR can digitally replicate hazardous facilities for proactive safety training [32] and even reduce psychological stress, contributing to improved workplace well-being [30]. Similarly, VR enables a comprehensive evaluation of trainee behavior in simulations [23; 29; 40; 54], aids in hazard identification [45; 54], and reduces the need for physical facilities, making training more cost-effective. By immersing workers in interactive, real-world-like scenarios, VR fosters decision-making and emergency response skills [42], resulting in successful skill transfer and training outcomes that are comparable to traditional methods [62]. In summary, immersive VR has the potential to transform safety training and evaluation by reducing accidents, enhancing skills, and promoting safer practices in high-risk industries. AR enhances safety training by overlaying digital information onto the real world and creating interactive learning environments that improve training outcomes. For instance, AR glasses provide real-time safety alerts, remote assistance, and guided instructions for hazardous situations [72]. This dual-view capability of viewing both real and digital environments simultaneously improves tasks such as repair, maintenance, and training, increasing efficiency and reducing risk [18]. Moreover, AR supports safety compliance by enabling operators to pre-train on high-risk tasks in virtual environments. The primary goal of AR-based training is to improve knowledge and decision-making by immersing workers in interactive, hazard-free simulations that blend virtual and real-world elements [42]. Dynamically collected safety data can alert operators to danger zones through audio-visual signals or guided motion paths, thereby enhancing situational awareness [69]. Wearable devices and environmental sensors further enrich AR training by collecting real-time worker data, leading to more personalized and effective learning experiences. XR, which encompasses VR, AR, and MR, offers a comprehensive suite of immersive training solutions that are cost-efficient and scalable. XR systems deliver customizable, effective, and scalable learning experiences [12], opening new possibilities for improving worker safety in diverse industrial settings [43]. The development of virtual operation training systems using XR enables safe and effective training without the risks associated with using actual machinery [12]. Additionally, organizing safety training in immersive virtual environments is a sustainable approach that reduces environmental impact and costs while enhancing behavioral skills and safety awareness [44].