The machinery sector is a vital component of the European Union’s manufacturing industry, playing a crucial role in its economic stability. However, machinery safety poses a significant challenge, leading to numerous accidents and fatalities. Despite adherence to safety rules, a substantial percentage of accidents result from losing control of machinery, tools, or handling equipment on industrial sites. In response, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the “Machinery Safety Directive 2006/42/EC” to mitigate such incidents.

In addressing machinery safety, Turkey, as a membership candidate country, introduced “Machinery Safety Regulations” in 2009. The industry’s root safety issue lies in the lack of training and awareness, particularly in vocational education. Existing curricula lack essential elements such as machinery safety, risk assessment, safety measures, and technological advancements. Recognizing the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 on production systems, collaboration with machines, industrial robots, and automation becomes imperative. However, implementing new processes brings challenges, raising concerns about the safety and maintenance of the entire production system.

As technology advances, the machinery industry faces a growing need for skilled workers capable of navigating the complexities of both traditional and Industry 4.0 production systems. To address these challenges, innovative approaches to vocational education and training are essential. Machinery safety training requires a forward-looking, inclusive, and digital curriculum. Implementing such a curriculum digitally presents an opportunity to significantly reduce occupational accidents, providing a sustainable and innovative solution to the industry. This project aims to develop an interactive vocational education curriculum using Augmented/Virtual Reality technologies aligned with safety directives, contributing to improved safety practices and addressing the evolving needs of the machinery industry.