FIELDWORK · DEVELOPMENT PROTOTYPE v0.5
Look around. Investigate. Make a judgement.
Step onto a virtual factory floor and practise recognising workplace hazards, checking information and choosing sensible next steps. FIELDWORK puts the learner in control of the visit, rather than following a fixed sequence of video clips.
Developed by Dr Simon Harold Walker. Shared as an educational prototype for colleague review, not as an approved examination or accredited CPD activity.
Try FIELDWORK
Explore the factory, investigate what you find and practise choosing a sensible next step. Select Start visit to open the playable prototype in a new tab.
Use a desktop or laptop browser with a keyboard and mouse. The activity opens at full browser size on our separate FIELDWORK hosting project. No download, installation, headset or visitor account is required.
Sound is optional and starts switched off. Use the point-and-click route instead of free movement whenever that is more comfortable. The prototype is intended for educational feedback, not for recording real patient or employee information.
A workplace visit, not a paperwork exercise
1. Explore
Move around Northbank Fabrication, a fictional factory. Look at workstations, workers, access routes and the controls already in place.
2. Investigate
Inspect a location, ask a scripted worker question or check the available records. Decide what you know and what still needs investigation.
3. Decide and review
Answer two short questions: what would you record, and what is the best next step? Read the feedback, reconsider your choices and revisit the scene.
What is inside?
The prototype contains 11 inspection stations and 24 evidence records. Scenarios cover noise, hand-arm vibration, chemicals and spillage, welding fume, personal protective equipment, manual handling, trip hazards, signage and workplace vehicles. Two stations demonstrate effective controls, so the task is not simply to label everything as unsafe.
There is no compulsory typing or pass mark. The review distinguishes first answers from later attempts and provides fuller occupational-health explanations for learners who wish to explore the reasoning.
Controls and comfort
Use WASD or the arrow keys to move. Drag the scene to look around, or enable mouse-look. Click an object or press E to inspect. Walking pace can be adjusted, and holding Shift provides a temporary speed boost.
A point-and-click route is available as an alternative to free movement. Settings include larger text, high-contrast panels, reduced sensory mode and adjustable graphics. Leave Auto smooth enabled initially; lower the graphics setting if movement feels uneven.
All essential information is available as text. Sound is optional, with centred audio as the default. Simulated machinery sounds are illustrative, not exposure measurements.
Why this resource?
FIELDWORK is intended to provide a repeatable opportunity to practise three skills: recognising relevant hazards and effective controls; identifying when more information is needed; and choosing a proportionate initial response. It is designed to complement occupational-medicine teaching and discussion, not to replace supervised practical experience or a real workplace visit.
Its educational effectiveness has not yet been established. The current version is being developed and reviewed for accuracy, usability, accessibility and suitability for teaching. It is not an official Faculty of Occupational Medicine assessment, a substitute portfolio visit or an accredited CPD course.
Feedback from colleagues
Feedback is particularly welcome on whether the workplace situations are credible, whether the questions and explanations are clear, and where the activity could better support occupational-health reasoning. For technical problems, please include your browser, device and what you were doing when the problem occurred. Do not include identifiable patient or employee information.
SCE Consultants 