Machine Guarding VR Training for Ontario Plants (Reg. 851, Sections 24 and 25)
VR machine guarding scenario for Ontario factories: moving parts, in-running nip points, missing guards and pre-start checks under Reg. 851, ss. 24 and 25.
QUICK ANSWER
Sections 24 and 25 of Ontario Regulation 851 require exposed moving parts that may endanger a worker to be guarded, and in-running nip hazards to be guarded so a worker cannot reach them. A VR plant floor trains workers to spot a guard that is missing, bypassed or fitted wrong before the shift starts.
What the Rule Requires
R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 Industrial Establishments, sections 24 and 25: section 24 requires a machine, prime mover or transmission equipment with an exposed moving part that may endanger a worker to be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving part. Section 25 requires an in-running nip hazard of any machine to be guarded.
The scenario is a food processing plant in the Waterloo Region. A conveyor tail pulley guard was removed for cleaning and leaned against a wall, an interlocked door on a slicer is held shut with a cable tie, and a new hire is asked to clear product from a belt while it runs.
Hazards in This Scenario
- In-running nip points on belts and rollers
- Entanglement in rotating shafts
- Interlocks defeated with ties or tape
- Reaching into running equipment to clear jams
The Procedure the Scenario Rehearses
- Walk the machine before start-up
- Confirm every guard is fitted and fixed
- Test interlocks on doors and covers
- Report and tag a missing guard
- Stop and lock out before clearing a jam
- Refuse to run a machine with a bypassed guard
Mistakes the Scenario Is Built to Catch
- Guard left off after cleaning
- Interlock tied shut to keep the line moving
- Clearing product with the belt running
- Assuming maintenance will catch it
Competence Assessment Matrix
| Decision point | What the assessor sees | Pass standard |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-start | Machine walked | Before every start |
| Guards | Missing guard found | Tagged and reported |
| Interlocks | Door tested | Bypass found |
| Jams | Clearing method | Stopped and locked out |
What VR Covers
- Nip points shown before they cause harm
- Bypassed guards hidden in a busy scene
- A safe way to experience entanglement risk
- Pre-start checks recorded per worker
What VR Does Not Replace
- Engineering review of guard design
- Lockout for jam clearing
- Supervisor floor checks
Scope of a One-Scenario Pilot
A pilot builds this scenario as a single module, in Unity or Unreal Engine depending on the visual fidelity the task needs and the headsets on site. It runs on standalone headsets, logs every learner decision, and exports a per-person record for your training file. It is measured against your current method with a test cohort before anything is scaled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ontario law require for guarding?
Sections 24 and 25 of Reg. 851 require exposed moving parts and in-running nip hazards to be guarded so workers cannot reach them.
Why practise guarding in VR?
Workers learn to see a bypassed interlock or missing guard in a realistic, busy scene without being near a live machine.
Does this cover pre-start health and safety reviews?
No. Those are engineering reviews. This scenario trains the people who run the machines.
Want this scenario built around your site?
We review your current procedure and tell you which parts can be rehearsed in VR and which still need hands-on practice.
Map Your Highest-Risk ScenarioFurther reading
- Lockout VR Training for Ontario Industrial Establishments (R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851)
- Noise and Hearing Loss VR Training for BC Workplaces (WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation, Part 7)
- Machine guarding basics
- Lockout tagout procedure steps
- All VR training scenarios: Canada
- VR pilot readiness checklist
- How VR training programs are priced