The Nigerian construction industry accounted for more than 40% of Nigeria's 3,461 recorded occupational accidents/injuries and 238 fatalities between 2014 and 2016, which is the highest of any sector. The emergence of the metaverse offers an innovative platform for enhancing planning, supervision and safety in hazardous construction environments. The metaverse technology has gained significant importance in safety training across various economic sectors, including construction, due to its numerous benefits. The study aimed at assessing the critical success factors (CSFs) for the adoption and implementation of metaverse-based safety training in the Nigerian construction industry.
A quantitative research design was adopted, utilising a structured questionnaire administered to 73 construction companies registered with the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) in Nigeria. The aim was to assess the CSFs for adopting and implementing metaverse-based safety training in construction project delivery. With a high response rate of 91.25%, the collected data were analysed using mean analysis, relative importance index (RII), coefficient of variation (CV) and factor analysis through principal component analysis (PCA) to extract meaningful insights.
The descriptive analysis (mean and RII) revealed that the top four CSFs for the adoption and implementation of metaverse-based safety training in the Nigerian construction industry include user training and skill development, customisation to construction site realities, integration with existing training frameworks and alignment with organisational goals. Secondly, factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution comprising: (1) technological and regulatory factors, (2) communication and training factors and (3) organisational and economic factors. These findings emphasise the importance of leadership support, infrastructure readiness, user training and regulatory alignment.
The study is novel in identifying and categorising the CSFs for the adoption of metaverse-based safety training in the Nigerian construction industry. The originality lies in the context-specific contribution revealing factors relevant to the industry. The study provides actionable insights for safety managers and construction firms on the prerequisite for the successful implementation of metaverse platforms for safety enhancement.
