Describes how Clipper Logistics Group, a pan-European retail and high value logistics specialist applied its unrivalled retail and fashion logistics expertise, including consolidation centres, and pre-retail e-fulfilment, to take on the role of 'critical friend' and support a team of academics from Anglia Ruskin and London Metropolitan Universities in developing a Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Seed Corn funded three dimensional (3D) warehouse in the popular virtual world Web site 'Second Life'. Discusses how creating an online warehouse with a number of design and operational flaws can help to train people in occupational health and safety issues and bridge the gap of time and space for international students or students with learning disabilities

Holley, Debbie

Johnson, Ted

Debbie Holley (758238)

Ted Johnson (773)

Anglia Ruskin Research

Health and safety training in 3D

Clipper Logistics was introduced, by CILT, to a project team from Anglia Ruskin and London Metropolitan Universities. Having been briefed on the requirements Clipper was keen to work in partnership to share their knowledge. It was agreed they would be the industry lead in a project to explore health and safety dimensions in new and innovative formats. This project developed a new learning tool to overcome some of the obstacles to on-site visits, and also to address changing learning patterns and methods of teaching delivery. Part of the project was to develop a warehouse in 3D, using the affordances of technologies powering immersive virtual worlds – in this case ‘Second Life’: www.secondlife.com – that would be accessible to any student with a PC and broadband connectio

Johnson, T.

Bournemouth University Research Online

Specialising in pan-European retail and high valuelogistics, Clipper Logistics Group has unrivalled retail and fashion logistics expertise including consolidationcentres, e-fulfilment, port deconsolidation, pre-retail,high secure and bonded operations. With 27 UK andEuropean distribution centres, circa 5.5 million ft2 ofwarehousing space, over 320 vehicles and a workforce of 2,500, Clipper has the size and ability to tackle anyproject matched with the agility to respond quickly tocustomers changing requirements. Clippers impressiveclient list includes industry leading brands such as JohnLewis, ASDA/George, Tesco, New Look, Morrisons,Harvey Nichols, Mint Velvet, Liberty, Bench, Build-a-Bearand Aurora Fashions.Health and safetyThe role of the Health and Safety Executive is to ‘preventpeople getting killed, injured or made ill by work’.www.hse.gov.ukClipper Logistics take their Health and Safetyresponsibilities very seriously, and are constantly reviewingways in which they can target training for their staff more effectively. Clipper already has robust procedures,accurate reporting on accident statistics, comprehensiveauditing processes and effective communication channelsvia annual updates for managers and the use of H&Scommittees.The Company has IOSH trained managers ateach location, ensures its statutory training obligations aremet; includes H&S awareness training in its management46FOCUS  AUGUST 2012AUTHORSTed JohnsonDebbie Holley FCILTSUPPLY CHAINREPORTHealth and safetytraining in 3DThe 3D world in Second LifeHealth and Safety is a key aspect of running a successfullogistics business. Clipper Logistics recently took on the role of ‘critical friend’ supporting a team of academics developing a CILT Seed Corn funded 3D warehouse in the popular virtualworld website ‘Second Life’.18hands3d  27/7/12  19:49  Page 1NEXT PAGESupplyChainTransportPlanningRailActiveTravel & TravelPlanningBus &CoachPortsMaritimeWaterwaysFreightForwardAviation47www.ciltuk.org.ukdevelopment programmes and ensures all new startersreceive ‘traditional’ induction training. Strategically Healthand Safety is an agenda item at their monthly boardmeetings which reviews safety data and legislation to help set policy, manage the care of staff and target areasfor improvement.CILT seedcorn funding‘More and more, people expect to be able to work, learn,study, and connect with their social networks wherever andwhenever they want to.’ New Horizons report 2010:5The increasing use of 3D and other ‘Virtual Worlds’for educational and business use is a highly contestedarea.Although there are a number of refereed papers onthe theoretical constructs and underpinnings of SecondLife – www.secondlife.com – there is little formal researchreported as yet into the learning experiences of studentand lecturer interactions within these worlds.Herold, 2010 By2011 it was estimated that about 80% of active internetusers will have an ‘avatar’ and/or a ‘second life’ in someform of virtual world environment.Chang et al 2009 The highestgrowing area of ‘Second Life’ user is the 35–43 age group,which challenges current assumptions that these newtechnologies are of interest to younger students only.Whilst one may contest the exact figures it seemsreasonable to assume that use of ‘Virtual World’technology is only going to increase.CILT awards seedcorn funding each year to supportresearch into different aspects of the logistics sector.The panel were pleased to get a proposal suggesting the exploration of an aspect of warehousing in theimmersive world of ‘Second Life’, especially as this could enable CILT students from all over the world to engage with each other ‘in world’ as well asundertaking individual health and safety tasks to develop their awareness of this crucial aspect of the business.The projectClipper Logistics was introduced, by CILT, to a projectteam from Anglia Ruskin and London MetropolitanUniversities. Having been briefed on the requirementsClipper was keen to work in partnership to share their knowledge. It was agreed they would be theindustry lead in a project to explore health and safetydimensions in new and innovative formats. This projectdeveloped a new learning tool to overcome some of theobstacles to on-site visits, and also to address changinglearning patterns and methods of teaching delivery.Part of the project was to develop a warehouse in 3D,using the affordances of technologies poweringimmersive virtual worlds – in this case ‘Second Life’:www.secondlife.com – that would be accessible to anystudent with a PC and broadband connection.The research team and industry experts then set upa number of briefing meetings to agree the sharedoutputs of the work. From Clipper’s viewpoint therewere concerns around commercial sensitivities of theirwarehouse operation; disruption to the business;ensuring the wellbeing of their staff during filming; misuseand misrepresentation of any materials developed andaccuracy of content.The research team were concernedabout ensuring the open dissemination of final materialsand the informed consent of those agreeing to take partin filming. Clipper Logistics offered Board Member andspecialist expertise to lead the project, and facilities byway of a ‘real life’ warehouse – at their Selby location – forthe research team to locate their study. Clipper alsoprovided the content needed to illustrate theimportance of health and safety in today’s busywarehousing environment.By creating an online warehouse with a number ofdesign and operational flaws, the problems of bridgingtime and space, especially for international students orstudents with learning disabilities, can be overcome.The shared project aims:1. To provide insights into the learning experiences thatcan be offered to students and/or staff studying bothlocally or at a distance.2. To develop insights and capture the experiences ofdeveloping a virtual warehouse that will have somehealth and safety features lacking; thus offering a ‘task’ forstudents to undertake in small teams.3.To scaffold the student experience of learning in a newlearning environment.4. To develop a sustainable resource that can used andupdated as industry standards for health and safetycontinue to improve.Ted JohnsonDebbie Holley FCILTClipper warehouse, Selby18hands3d  27/7/12  19:49  Page 2About the authorsTed Johnson has a degree in Business Studies from Aston University in Birmingham and is a Fellow of the CIPD.Having worked in many industry sectors such as brewing, automotive and wall coverings,Ted now works in the3PL logistics sector and since 2006 has been employed by Clipper Logistics Group Ltd as their HR Director.For further information on Clipper, see their website: www.clippergroup.co.ukDr Debbie Holley FCILT is an academic at Anglia Ruskin University, interested in engaging students withlearning through different digital mediums. For this project, colleagues Alan Hudson – Pell Juran in ‘Second Life’,and Chris O’Reilly – film, editing, animation, website design –  from London Metropolitan University providedtechnical support.For more on Debbie and her work see her website: http://drdebbieholley.comFurther informationFor more information on 3D warehouse training and WMS why not join our Warehouse Management SystemsForum? See our website www.ciltuk.org.uk for more details.ESSENTIALSEND48FOCUS  AUGUST 2012Project outputsThe final resource offers two different paths to workthrough:1. The first path comprises a ‘real life’ area starting with a video of a hapless ‘warehouse operative’ having a badday as he is filmed walking through a number of ‘staged’health and safety hazards. This scenario is backed up by a number of interactive exercises to ‘test’ the user’swider knowledge.2. The second path is the guided tour of the warehousein ‘Second Life’ – a free immersive 3D world. Fullinstructions are given as to how to access and navigatethrough this world, which may be unfamiliar to some.A set of helpful documents is available, including abriefing on using ‘Second Life’ safely.Both paths have easy navigation back to the homepage, and it is anticipated that users would make use ofboth sets of materials in developing their ownknowledge. However, the two paths have beendeveloped such that they can be used independentlyand hence the package can still be beneficial, particularlyfor in-house staff, who may be uncomfortable inembracing 3D technology.The content of the programme was sense checkedwith a representative from the Health & SafetyExecutive for accuracy before final release.The material can be used by individuals remotely andin their own time, access can be given in the context ofa company’s open learning resource centre or can beprojected on to a screen as part of a tutor led exercise.So as not to put users off it was decided that the programme would not culminate in a ‘test’ or ‘exam’ but was intended to be thought provoking in a ‘safe’ environment.ConclusionThe site now offers a 'health and safety trail' for visitorsto navigate around the warehouse being exposed to anumber of 'risks' – for example, tumbling boxes; toxicmaterials in the wrong place and a number of otherhazards. Interactivity is provided by the generation of a'score' by correctly identifying the hazards, thus offeringfeedback to the visitor on their H&S knowledge.The package also provides an imaginative, user friendlyand interactive 2D environment which can be usedindependently or in conjunction with the 3D option.This also provides a useful confidence builder for userswanting to start in a more traditional environmentbefore perhaps progressing to the ‘new world’.As well as an engaging and interactive set of learningactivities, this site contains a set of specially selected journalpapers and articles – copyright cleared by the CILTKnowledge Centre – which visitors can access and save onto their own PC. The companion website has links touseful websites, and Clipper Logistics have sharedexamples of their health and safety policy documents.The final resource is now freely available to CILTmembers. Please login to the CILT Members’ Area ofthe website, and follow the link to the 3D warehouse.The first section of the website has some generalinformation about Clipper Logistics and health andsafety, and then there is an option page where thereader can decide whether to explore the multi-mediainformation and tasks (2D) or to start to explore thewarehouse in 3D by creating an avatar and taking a visit.Full information as to the process and navigating in‘Second Life’ safely is available before the entry website.OutcomesOur project has had both academic and industry impact – the academic team have presented the workat a number of conferences and workshops, and ClipperLogistics are using the 2D activities as part of theirinduction and ongoing health and safety training.A video was also recorded aspart of the Health & SafetyProject with Clipper. DebbieHolley is pictured with the film team.Clipper Logistics offered Board Member and specialist expertise tolead the project, and facilities by way of a ‘real life’ warehouse – attheir Selby location – for the research team to locate their studySUPPLY CHAINREPORT18hands3d  27/7/12  19:49  Page 3

https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/id/eprint/303153/1/Johnson-Holley-Health-Safety-2012.pdf

Health and safety training in 3D

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