More than 50 percent of reported underground utility damages are the result of insufficient excavation practices according to the 2017 DIRT Report. The Ditch Witch organization, a Charles Machine Works Company, introduced a Virtual Reality (VR) Simulator to better prepare horizontal directional drill (HDD) operators for safe underground construction through cutting-edge training technology.
“Our next-generation HDD VR Simulator takes training to the next level by allowing operators to familiarize themselves with HDD equipment and experience a realistic jobsite without the potential risks of putting a novice operator in complex environment,” says Greg Wolfe, Ditch Witch director of training. “Combined with our comprehensive Certified HDD Training curriculum, the simulator provides operators with the proper training to safely and effectively complete an HDD jobsite project without the pressure of consequences from mistakes.”