The North Forge Fabrication Lab (FabLab™) is the largest publicly accessible fabrication lab in North America, with member safety being of the utmost importance. This is why the FabLab is SAFE Work Certified by Made Safe and has developed a Health and Safety Program as part of its mission to foster founder growth safely in Manitoba.

The acceleration and incubation of advanced manufacturing innovation is key to the Fabrication Lab’s success. Over the past two years, Marney Stapley, Vice President of North Forge and Dan Blair, CEO of Bit Space Development Ltd. (BSD), created an immersive technology experience to augment the FabLab’s Health and Safety program. Finding an innovative technology solution for augmenting the FabLab’s Health and Safety Program is what led to the partnership between North Forge and BSD. “Working with Bit Space Development was an obvious choice for the VR Safety Training Project as they are our long-standing partner in our advanced ICT Lab,” notes Marney. “I’ve worked with Dan for several years and know him to be passionate about what he does with businesses to solve problems in new ways.” 

With assistance from the Worker’s Compensation Board of Manitoba and SAFE Work Manitoba, a VR safety learning experience was created to bring attention to critical areas and the equipment that are considered high risk within the Fab Lab. Key areas and equipment highlighted include a general orientation of the FabLab, wood and metal shops, laser room, 3-axis CNC machine, and 3D resin printers. This remote training method was developed to help members understand and demonstrate Safe Work Procedures; keep current with safety improvements; understand and follow personal protective equipment guidelines; demonstrate usage of specific machine hazards and control methods, and to understand the FabLab member responsibilities.

Members of the FabLab will have the opportunity to start their VR safety training on April sixth, 2021.

For more information about the FabLab or to become a member, visit: https://northforge.ca//services-for-business/fabrication-lab/

For more information about Bit Space Development and their XR technology capabilities, check out: https://bitspacedevelopment.com/