# Boosting Safety Protocol Compliance with Eye-Tracking in Chemical Plants
## 1 Introduction
This study contributes to the advancement of industrial safety training by integrating real-time eye-tracking into extended reality (XR) environments specifically designed for chemical process operations. Unlike the existing studies focused on general procedural training, our approach tailors gaze-based feedback to the visual demands and safety-critical sequences of chemical tasks, thus introducing a domain-specific application of XR-eye-tracking integration that remains underexplored in the literature. Specifically, it examines how gaze-directed training influences key performance metrics such as reaction time, accuracy, attention distribution, and error rates [8]. Additionally, it investigates whether the benefits of eye-tracking-assisted training differ between experienced and novice operators, offering insights into how adaptive training technologies can enhance workforce preparedness [9]. Another objective is to determine whether real-time gaze monitoring can improve safety protocol adherence and enhance emergency response efficiency in hazardous industrial environments [10]. While recent studies have explored the utility of XR in construction [11] and offshore environments [12], these contexts lack the procedural precision and risk conditions characteristic of chemical plants. Moreover, most studies utilize eye-tracking only as a passive assessment tool. In contrast, our study actively employs gaze feedback as an adaptive instructional mechanism--an innovation not previously demonstrated in chemical industry training. Although prior studies have demonstrated the feasibility of virtual reality (VR) for safety training in high-risk engineering industries, many of these frameworks lack integrated biometric feedback mechanisms, limiting their capacity for real-time adaptation. For example, the recent literature reviews highlight the effectiveness of VR in improving trainee engagement and procedural knowledge, yet they also emphasize a lack of dynamic feedback systems that adjust to users' attention or stress levels during task execution [13]. In contrast, the current study contributes a novel training framework by integrating real-time eye-tracking into XR simulations, thereby enabling both performance monitoring and adaptive instructional feedback. This dual integration represents a significant advancement in gaze-guided safety training design for cognitively demanding chemical plant environments [14]. Recent research has shown that XR platforms have been used to simulate emergency evacuations in petrochemical facilities [15] and sterile room protocols in pharmaceutical plants [16]. However, these implementations typically lack real-time adaptive feedback and do not employ eye-tracking technology to assess or guide user attention during training. To achieve these goals, a controlled experimental study was conducted using a VR-based safety training system integrated with eye-tracking technology. Participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group, which received real-time gaze feedback to adjust their focus and decision-making, and the control group, which completed XR training without eye-tracking assistance. Both groups performed simulated chemical handling tasks, with their performance evaluated across multiple criteria, including response speed, procedural accuracy, attention focus, and corrective action efficiency [17]. By systematically evaluating the impact of gaze-directed feedback, this study contributes to the growing field of intelligent safety training systems. The findings will provide empirical evidence on how integrating eye-tracking with XR enhances situational awareness, reduces errors, and improves compliance with safety protocols [18]. As industries continue to seek innovative training methods to minimize workplace hazards, XR combined with real-time eye-tracking technology represents a promising step toward the future of safety training [19].