The Use of Mindfulness in Health and Safety to Reduce Incidents. Chris Langer (CIRAS) and Monica Monti (Abellio) 21 November 2017, IOSH

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1 The Use of Mindfulness in Health and Safety to Reduce Incidents Chris Langer (CIRAS) and Monica Monti (Abellio) 21 November 2017, IOSH

2 Agenda Mins (approx) Item 1 Audience participation: familiarity with mindfulness 3 The mindful teacher 5 CIRAS reports, real-world distractions, mindfulness basics 5 FGC case study 5 The science behind mindfulness 1 Exercise: mindful movement 5 Abellio workshops for bus drivers and video clip of Felicia 5 Miracle on the Hudson and gratitude 1 Exercise: one minute mindfulness 2 A day of safety mindfulness 1 Audience participation: applying mindfulness 5 Questions and close

3 Question for audience How many people here are familiar with the concept of mindfulness?

4 The mindful teacher

5 CIRAS reports Approximately. 33% of CIRAS reports contain health and safety issues which could be addressed through mindfulness

6 A real-world problem for bus drivers

7 What is mindfulness? The awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment

8 Mindfulness basics Focuses on breathing Observing without judgment Practice leads to long-term benefits

9 Managing health Anxiety Depression Stress Irritability

Labelling Elaborating Analysing Judging Planning Comparing Remembering

10 Conceptual Vs Experiential Environmental Input Conceptual Conceptual Direct noticing/experiential Experiential Direct noticing/experiential Labelling Elaborating Analysing Judging Planning Comparing Remembering Self-reflecting Seeing Tasting Touching Hearing Smelling Visceral sensations Sensing

Mindfulness: FGC case study (1) FGC Catalan: public operator of urban, suburban and regional lines 80 million passengers a year Some of the psychological factors affecting the

11 Mindfulness: FGC case study (1) FGC Catalan: public operator of urban, suburban and regional lines 80 million passengers a year Some of the psychological factors affecting the operational performance of drivers: Solitary work, limited social interaction Monotonous driving Repetitive tasks Stress Fundamentals: preventing loss of attention, staying alert whilst driving

Mindfulness: FGC case study (2) MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) course taken by 23 drivers: Custom designed programme based on full attention Created by Jon Kabat

12 Mindfulness: FGC case study (2) MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) course taken by 23 drivers: Custom designed programme based on full attention Created by Jon Kabat Zinn (University of Massachusetts Medical Centre in 1979) Drivers were helped to: Develop more resilience Cope with stress Be more present in the cab Avoid being on auto-pilot

13 Mindfulness: FGC case study (3) 85% said their attention was higher or much higher than before the course No operational incidents in 6 month period after mindfulness course Benefits for drivers, include improved: Concentration Emotional regulation & resilience Individual coping strategies for stress & fatigue

14 Mindfulness: FGC case study (4)

Mindfulness: FGC case study (5) Cost of a having a Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) is around 29,000 The cost of mindfulness training (MBSR) for one driver is around 400 Over 70 drivers can be

15 Mindfulness: FGC case study (5) Cost of a having a Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) is around 29,000 The cost of mindfulness training (MBSR) for one driver is around 400 Over 70 drivers can be trained for the price of one SPAD Enhancing safety culture

16 The science behind mindfulness (1) Neuroscientist Sara Lazar's research: There are differences in brain volume which show up in brain scans after just eight weeks of mindfulness practice. Areas of the brain actually thickened

The science behind mindfulness (2) Specific areas of the brain which thickened: 1. The posterior cingulate: involved in mind wandering, and self-relevance 2.

17 The science behind mindfulness (2) Specific areas of the brain which thickened: 1. The posterior cingulate: involved in mind wandering, and self-relevance 2. The left hippocampus: assists in learning, cognition, memory and emotional regulation 3. The temporo parietal junction (TPJ): assists with perspective taking, empathy and compassion 4. The Pons (an area of the brain stem): a lot of regulatory neurotransmitters are produced here And one area of the brain that actually got smaller! The amygdala (fight or flight) responsible for anxiety, fear and stress. The change in the amygdala was also correlated to a reduction in stress levels.

18 Some mindful movement How are you sitting right now? Notice contact points with your feet against the floor An antidote to the power lunch Nourishing your body and inner self Is there any tension in your neck and shoulders? Breathe in slowly, and breathe out. Notice the rising and falling of your chest Take in the tastes, smells, colours and textures Step off the treadmill Stand up and shake yourself out Connect again Take in your surrounding, sit back down again How are you feeling now?

19 The Abellio mindfulness workshops (1) Six workshops arranged to introduce the practice of mindfulness to Abellio bus drivers at their depots. Shown a nine-minute video to explain how mindfulness could benefit their health and lead to safer driving too. The video content described the essence of mindfulness practice with its focus on breathing in the present moment, and observing without judgment. Some drivers had already heard of the practice of mindfulness, though some hadn t. The video content s usefulness was rated on average 4.7 out of 5 by drivers. Many drivers expressed a desire to learn more.

20 The Abellio mindfulness workshops (2) The video content was broken down into seven practical tips for everyday mindfulness, before and during work: 1. First drink of the day: paying greater attention to just noticing sensations 2. The morning challenge: bringing the mind to the body by checking in with oneself 3. Driving awareness: being aware of one s surroundings and ready for new hazards 4. Stopping at the lights: pausing and focusing on one s breathing before moving off again 5. Eating mindfully: appreciating the tastes, colours, smells and textures of food 6. Walking mindfully: avoiding distractions and paying attention to the act of walking 7. Gratitude: appreciating moments and the positive things one already has

21 The Abellio mindfulness workshops (3)

22 Mindfulness for bus drivers

23 Miracle on the Hudson An antidote to the power lunch Nourishing your body and inner self Take in the tastes, smells, colours and textures Step off the treadmill Connect again

24 What gets you out of bed in the morning? My job is to reunite people with family and friends, to send them on long awaited vacations, to bring them to loved ones funerals, to get them to their job interviews Chesley Sully Sullenberger

25 Gratitude Life is made up of moments. You have only An moments antidote to to live the power lunch Nourishing Appreciative your attention body and in the inner here selfand now can pay dividends Take in the tastes, smells, colours and textures We easily miss the beauty in front of our eyes Step off the treadmill Try the ten finger gratitude exercise: Connect again Once a day bring 10 things to mind that you are grateful for count them on your fingers

One minute mindfulness An Sit upright, antidote rest to the your power feet flat, lunch close your eyes Nourishing Notice your your breath body as and you inhale inner self and exhale Take Bring in

26 One minute mindfulness An Sit upright, antidote rest to the your power feet flat, lunch close your eyes Nourishing Notice your your breath body as and you inhale inner self and exhale Take Bring in your the attention tastes, smells, back colours to your and breath textures if your mind wanders Step off the treadmill Observe what your mind is doing, but resist the Connect temptation again to be critical Open your eyes, return to your surroundings

27 Begin with a day of safety mindfulness (1) 1. Start the day with a short breathing exercise - like the one we ve practised 2. Prepare yourself to go into the work area select the appropriate workwear/ppe for example 3. Before you move into the work area, simply observe, carefully examining each task and aspect 4. Take the time to consider what you see in terms of safety and then, ONLY THEN, with the benefit of thought Decide your actions in total safety mindfulness. Examples of actions: observing a colleague performing a task, or have a chat with a colleague, or engage in a work activity

28 Begin with a day of safety mindfulness (2) IMPORTANT: Mindfulness is contagious - a person who works with safety mindfulness acts as a constant reminder to his/her colleagues. TRY IT when you go back to work. Good luck!

29 Question for audience How many people would now consider applying mindfulness within the health and safety field?

30 Any questions?

31 Contact details Chris Langer Monica Monti

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