Developing a valid VR-based safety tool framework for hospitality TVET: A Fuzzy Delphi analysis with academic and industry experts

• Published in: Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development
• Main Author: Saad M.; Sahrir M.S.; Jeinie M.H.; Abdullah N.; Haminuddin N.; Mokhtar M.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EnPress Publisher, LLC 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85202871304&doi=10.24294%2fjipd.v8i8.5662&partnerID=40&md5=643eaba8808265d6fa239030314477b7

The research explores academia and industry experts’ viewpoints regarding the innovative progression of Virtual Reality (VR)-based safety tools customized for technical and vocational education training (TVET) within commercial kitchen contexts. Developing a VR-based safety tools holistic framework is crucial in identifying constructs to mitigate the risks prevalent in commercial kitchens, encompassing physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards workers encounter. Introducing VR-based safety training represents a proactive strategy to bolster education and training standards, especially given the historically limited attention directed toward workers’ physical and mental well-being in this sector. This study pursues a primary objective: validating a framework for VR-based kitchen safety within TVET’s hospitality programs. In addition to on-site observations, the research conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 participants, including safety training coordinators, food service coordinators, and IT experts. Participants supplemented qualitative insights by completing a 7-Likert scale survey. Utilizing the Fuzzy Delphi technique, seven constructs were delineated. The validation process underscored three pivotal constructs essential for the VR safety framework’s development: VR kitchen design, interactive applications, and hazard identification. These findings significantly affect the hospitality industry’s safety standards and training methodologies within commercial kitchen environments. © 2024 by author(s).