Mine safety training presents a unique challenge: the highest-risk scenarios are often the least practical to recreate in the real world. Workers need to be prepared for serious hazards, but training those situations in active environments can be difficult, costly, and dangerous. That creates a strong case for immersive training that allows workers to engage with realistic conditions in a controlled setting.
Developed with Gillette College in partnership with the University of Wyoming, this VR mine safety training experience places learners inside a large surface coal mine where they must identify and respond to common workplace hazards. The simulation was designed to support both new worker onboarding and ongoing safety education, giving trainees the opportunity to practice awareness and response in a realistic, zero-risk environment.
The project also stands out for its real-world adoption. What began as an immersive training initiative has become part of a broader workforce training ecosystem, supporting required safety instruction in a regulated, high-stakes industry. In 2024, more than 2,000 industry workers were trained using the VR simulation, followed by 2,565 immersive safety training sessions delivered in 2025. That level of sustained use demonstrates the project’s value not just as a training innovation, but as practical workforce infrastructure.
The Goal:
Improve safety preparedness and hazard awareness for new and existing mine workers by providing realistic training scenarios without exposing participants to real-world danger. The broader goal was to create a repeatable training tool that could support required safety education at scale.
Our Approach:
CM&D approached the project with a focus on experiential learning, training relevance, and real-world usability. The experience needed to reflect the realities of mine safety training while fitting into a broader instructional environment that could support repeated use over time. We led the design and project management of the experience, helping shape the training structure, scenario flow, and overall learner experience so the final simulation aligned with workforce needs and safety goals.
Key elements of the project included:
