This work focuses on an innovative training methodology based on the use of Virtual
ergonomics and "serious games" in the field of occupational safety. Virtual Ergonomics
was chosen as an effective and convincing tool for disseminating the culture of safety
among the workers, while a "serious game" was developed to train operators on specific
safety procedures and to verify their skills. The results of the experimentation in
a real industrial case study showed that, compared to the traditional training methodology,
multimedia contents and quantitative ergonomic analyses improve the level of attention
and the awareness of the operators about their safety. On the other hand, Serious
games turned out as promising tools to train the workers about safe operating procedures
that are difficult to implement in a real working environment.
