Disclaimer: Although extensive research has been done, we are not medical experts. This blog does not contain medical advice but a summary of our findings.

Hygiene and safety are important when VR headsets and controllers are used by multiple people. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it became especially clear that commonly used procedures regarding hygiene and safety are no longer sufficient. Therefore, there is a need to update information regarding the safe use of VR headsets. But it is not only during a pandemic that it is important to pay attention to hygiene and safety. In all circumstances, it is important to pay attention to this.

The Virtual Training Academy believes it is important to share the knowledge about this and combine it with the expertise provided by the VR/AR/XR community. This blog aims to summarise the most up-to-date knowledge on the safe and hygienic use of headsets and turn this into usable procedures.

Disinfectants and hand gel

The Covid-19 virus can survive on plastic for up to 72 hours. A headset and controllers can be quarantined during this time or cleaning agents can be used to disinfect them. Different disinfectants have different effects on Covid-19 survival. It should also be taken into account that some disinfectants cause irritation on the face. An substance containing chlorine, for example, may irritate the skin or eyes.

Ethanol-based disinfectants are the most effective against viruses and they are also generally readily available. The advice is to use a remedy with a concentration of 70% alcohol. When cleaning with alcohol, it is important to wet the part to be cleaned and allow it to dry thoroughly. The efficacy of hand gel with alcohol strongly depends on how it is applied. The recommendation is to use a hand gel with a minimum concentration of 60% alcohol. Each part of the hand should be rubbed with the gel for 30 seconds.

As far as we know for now, all readily available disinfectants that are effective against Covid-19 are not recommended for disinfecting VR sets. These substances can damage the material of the headset and controllers. Alcohol is also one of the substances whose use is not recommended by manufacturers. In the long run, using alcohol can dissolve the plastic, make the plastic less flexible or cause it to discolour. Alcohol can also cause permanent stains on the lenses of the headset. It is therefore better to clean the lenses with a microfibre cloth to avoid damage. Baby wipes and regular antibacterial wipes do not destroy the Covid-19 virus. Therefore, a trade-off has to be made between damaging the headset material in the long run and protecting the users when choosing a disinfection method and using a cleaning product.

Waterproof face pads and disposable face masks

VR headsets normally have a face pad that is not water-resistant. For hygiene reasons, it is definitely advisable to purchase face pads that are water-resistant as they are easier to disinfect. Disposable face masks only protect against stains from e.g. make-up. After each user, the surface under the disposable face pad should be disinfected.

UVC light

UVC light seems to be the safest and easiest way to disinfect headsets and controllers. UVC light disinfects a headset when the surface of the headset comes into contact with the UVC light at a certain wavelength from a certain distance for a certain time.

It is important not to confuse UVA or UVB with UVC as these provide different wavelengths and therefore have a different effect on the headset. UVA and UVB light is the light you get from the sun and this can cause damage to the headset. UVC light does damage the skin and eyes and therefore caution should be taken when working with UVC light.

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology can be used to make the headset water-resistant. This technology is available all over the world and is usually offered in the form of a spray. The spray can be used on the inner parts around the lenses of certain headsets and these are often made of fabric so it can be difficult to disinfect them properly. The spray also helps prevent make-up, for example, from causing permanent stains on the headset. It is important to note that the majority of these sprays contain harmful chemicals and this leads to health and environmental problems. There are many types available depending on the material you want to use it on. VR headsets are generally made of plastic and fabric. You may need to apply several layers to get the right coating. It is also good to bear in mind that the effect of nanotechnology diminishes after a certain time. It is possible to test this by dropping a drop of water on a treated surface to see if it is still water-resistant. Finally, it is not recommended to use cleaning products on a nano-spray coating as this can cause the coating to break down.

Training staff, clients and trainees

People's behaviour is at least as important as the aforementioned methods. Therefore, it is incredibly important to teach employees, clients and trainees the right hygiene and safety protocols. Here, you can think of training regarding health checks, assertiveness while interacting with clients, building trust and following the right protocols.

Using a certain protocol and procedure reduces the chances of human error and ensures that everyone understands how a virus spreads and the risks involved when infected. Keep in mind though, the easier it is to decontaminate a headset, the more likely users will follow the protocol.

Special thanks in the making of this blog go to: Evelien Ydo from Serious VR, Marjo Nieuwenhuijse from SeriousVR, Amy Hedrick from Cleanbox Technology, Michael Zhang from the University of Michigan, Lorelle van Fossen from Educators in VR, Jan-Willem van 't Klooster director of the BMS laboratory at the University of Twente, Dana-Maria Faneker from Captain VR, Angelina Dayton aka The VR Lady and the wonderful people from the research at Educators in VR for providing valuable information and feedback.