Article
Imagine losing not only one — but two — of your immediate family members to a workplace accident.
Dallas Adams knows the cost of unsafe practices firsthand. In 2004, his older brother James was killed in an underground coal-mining rock fall at the Dartbrook Coal Mine in the Hunter Valley. Then in May 2017, his father Jimmy was fatally injured while working on the Sydney NorthConnex tunnelling project. He suffered chest injuries after being struck by components of a pressurised piping system, caused by the uncontrolled release of stored energy, and later died in hospital. The incident was later deemed preventable, and two companies were fined over his death.
The challenge of standing up for safety
Adams began his career in the 1990s at the Western Australian underground goldmine operation, Telfer.
“I started working underground at 18 years old in 1994, straight from school. Coming from an authoritarian system was all I knew, and I had been ingrained with ‘just do what I was told’,” he said.
He recalls how difficult it was to change that mindset, especially with little industry experience and the fear of speaking up.
“Changing this mindset was going to be hard, especially when I had little to no experience in the industry and was scared to say anything. If you were seen to be doing ‘the right thing’ then you were about to keep out of trouble. The system was run on you learning as you go, and if you didn’t stuff up too badly then you got to keep your job. If you were really unlucky, you died.”
Close calls, he explained, were often treated like trophies rather than warnings.
“If something happened that was considered a close call then it would show how lucky you were that you didn’t die, almost like winning a trophy.”
It was experiences like these that led Adams to commit to creating a better environment for people in the industry, as well as for the next generation of workers, including his own children.
Using virtual reality safety training
With the goal of improving workplace safety and training, Adams joined XRJV-Training as a consultant in 2018. Together with his wife, Jess Lelievre, he developed a VR program designed to engage blue-collar workers who are often less responsive to traditional pen-and-paper methods.
While developing the training simulation, Adams was consulting on a major project for a large company. He worked alongside engineers to find a way to operate quickly while still maintaining safety. Drawing on his sporting background, where he had used video sessions and simulation training, he translated those principles into an underground safety-training environment. The approach proved to be both cheaper and more efficient, as training could be conducted in rooms rather than requiring access to tunnels.
“My father spent years coaching people on job sites and showing them techniques that could make their work easier and more efficient,” Adams said.
“I found VR was the best way to help individuals, because they can be exposed to a tunnel environment and learn what can happen if they are confronted with hazards or risks in a safe simulation, without being in physical danger. The cost of VR is also a fraction of building a tunnelling school, and it can reach a much larger group of people.”
The VR simulation was designed for sessions of 15–20 minutes, as prolonged exposure to VR can cause motion sickness. Adams explains this is often avoided when the graphics are high quality.
“It is up to the individual how long they choose to interact with the VR program. However, we designed it like a game, so more interaction creates more learning,” he said.
Credit: Jess Lelievre and Carlos Melo of XRJV-Training.
Why Safety Matters
Adams’ company has come a long way since the day he and his then 13-year-old daughter Jasmine sat down together to create his first presentation. He now regularly visits worksites and uses his Why Safety Matters (WSM) talk to help companies plan daily targets, highlight safety issues that may arise, and present to new employees — something he finds particularly valuable.
“It sets the tone of the mentality of the working environment,” Adams said.
He explains that WSM was built on lived experiences, and that his family still carries the impact of those experiences today.
“It opens their eyes to the harsh reality of the industry they have walked into. I talk about the shock of receiving a phone call from a manager after my father’s accident, and dealing with project directors and CEOs in suits who I believe had no idea how to support a family that had just been put in this tragic situation. Meeting them and shaking their hands is something that haunts me to this day.”
While difficult, he describes the journey as a massive learning curve that he now shares with others.
“It was hard but also a massive learning curve that I just wanted to share with people who think taking risks is acceptable.”
Adams’ message is clear:
ALL I WANT IS PEOPLE TO REALISE HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE DO NOT ONLY AFFECT THEM. THE RIPPLE EFFECT FROM NOT PLANNING, GUIDING, CONTROLLING AND IMPLEMENTING SAFE WORK PRACTICES IS BRUTAL, AND EVERYONE IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING IT SAFE.
(Dallas with his father and older brother James at Jimmy's 50th birthday, taken by Dallas’ mother Diane.)
If you are affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, Lifeline has a 24/7 crisis support service that can help. Please call 13 11 14.
