Mindfulness: How being present impacts health and

safety in the workplaceDr Ivan Zwart

The information (‘Information’) prepared for these seminars has been prepared and supplied in good faith on behalf of the Crown in Right of Tasmania (‘the Crown’) by the Department of Justice as WorkSafe Tasmania and the WorkCover Tasmania Board (‘the Board’).

Although all due care and attention has been taken in preparing and collating the Information neither the Crown nor the Board gives a warranty either express or implied as to the accuracy or completeness of the Information or its relevance to any particular circumstances.

The Information may change or be varied due to facts or requirements of different areas of government or policy issues in existence but not known or apparent to those preparing or collating the Information.

The Crown and the Board and their relevant employees and agents accept no liability (whether by reason of negligence or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever or howsoever arising or suffered as a consequence of the use or reliance on the Information or advice given at these seminars which is used or relied on at that person’s own risk absolutely.

Please turn all mobile phones to silent!

Where were you…

• As you ate dinner last night?• When in the shower this morning?• When you walked to this room?

Our work environment

• Increasing competition• Organisational change• Downsizing• Work intensification

• Job insecurity• Longer hours• Reduced resources

Competitive global economy contributes to:

Problem One: Health and (dis)tress

When demands exceed the personal and social resources a person is able to mobilise

What is stress?• Stimulus can vary• Response is a physical reaction to an event

eliciting the ‘fight or flight’ response• Release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline• Gives us energy to respond• Acute and chronic stress

Psychological effects of stress• Irritability• withdrawal• inhibited thinking• anxiety• depression• suicide

Physiological effects of stress• Cardiovascular diseases (heart attack, chest pain or stroke) • Gastrointestinal

disorders• Immune deficiency

Significance of stressin modern workplaces

‘By 2020, stress related illnesses (i.e. depression and cardiovascular disease) will be the leading causes

of the global disease burden’

Source: Australian Workplace Barometer, 2012

Significance of stressin modern workplaces• Mental health has overtaken physical health as cause of longest absences from work (11.8 weeks)• Mental health absences are 3 times longer than other serious claims• 20% of workers suffer from mild level of depression

Source: Australian Workplace Barometer, 2012

Something to consider…

Is there a way to alleviate stress, mental and physical health problems, absenteeism

and presenteeism – all at once?

Problem Two: Safety and awareness

Workers have a responsibility to:

• Obey all reasonable instructions• Follow the safe procedures of doing the job• Not put yourself or co-workers at risk

Source: Tasmanian Work Health and Safety Guide for New Workers

Problem Two: Safety and awareness

In our experience, 95 per cent of accidents occur because of the acts of people…when you’ve done the

technical things you’ve only just started.

Du Pont General Manager, Australia

Problem Two: Safety and awareness• 70% of our top injuries involve a person who

is inattentive/distracted Source: University of California Health and Safety Research

• 62% of car crashes in Australia due to inattention or possible inattention

Source: Monash University accident research centre

Problem Two: Safety and awareness

Should we rely solely on regulations, rules and procedures

to keep people safe?

MindfulnessPaying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment

Mindfulness practicesFormal practices include:

• Observation• Breathing• Body scan

Build into daily life

Mindfulness benefits:mental state• Relieves stress• Provides relaxation• Decreased anger/

moodiness• Improves sleep

• Manages depression/ anxiety

• Increases happiness

Mindfulness benefits: physiological• Improves breathing and circulation• Reduces heart rate• Reduces blood pressure• Improves immunity

Mindfulness benefits:

Awareness / focus

Mindfulness benefits:

Awareness / safety

In your workplace…• Are workers sometimes stressed?• Are the causes and solutions to stress well understood?• Are workers sometimes inattentive, and what are the consequences? • What role could mindfulness play in alleviating these issues?