Industrial Hygiene in Virtual Reality Training Labs: A Tiered Exposure‑Risk and ARECC Framework

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used for occupational safety and health (OSH) training, yet the VR laboratory itself is seldom treated as an exposure environment requiring systematic industrial hygiene management. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that applies the Anticipate, Recognize, Evaluate, Control, and Confirm (ARECC) model to VR training labs, treating them as multi‑hazard workplaces with physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, electrical, and psychosocial exposures. The framework integrates a tiered exposure‑assessment strategy ranging from qualitative screening to semi‑quantitative scales and quantitative, sensor‑based monitoring with engineering, administrative, and data‑governance controls tailored to immersive environments. Real‑time environmental, biomechanical, and physiological data streams from sensors, wearables, and eye tracking systems are used to construct multi‑domain exposure profiles and to verify the effectiveness of control measures. The application of the framework is demonstrated through a VR confined‑space entry training scenario in an industrial setting, showing how it can inform design decisions, operational policies, and continuous improvement across VR lab implementations. The paper concludes with implications for research and practice, highlighting needs for standardized VR‑specific exposure metrics, empirical validation of the framework across sectors, and development of guidance that aligns VR training facilities with contemporary exposure‑risk management principles.