Sthir Stories
Enhancing Workplace Safety through Mindfulness
Summary:
The organization sought to reduce safety lapses by strengthening mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and resilience among plant workers operating in high-risk conditions.
Sthir’s year-long mindfulness program transformed the safety culture—lowering operational mishaps, enhancing emotional control, and fostering greater awareness and collaboration across the workforce.
Industry
Manufacturing
Client
Client Name Withheld
Date
2022
Case Study
Challenge:
A leading manufacturer in India aimed to reduce safety incidents at its plant by enhancing mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and resilience among workers managing high-risk tasks. The plant’s high-pressure environment left little room for error, fostering a blame culture and reactive responses that affected safety outcomes. The company sought a plant-specific solution to promote thoughtful interactions, emotional regulation, and greater safety awareness.
The Sthir Approach
Sthir’s Year-Long Mindfulness Program:
Sthir developed a comprehensive, year-long program with four interconnected modules aimed at building mindfulness and emotional resilience to reduce safety breaches:
- 1. Introduction to Mindfulness: Focused on basic mindfulness practices and their role in preventing mistakes through conscious awareness.
- 2. Emotional Intelligence for Plant Workers: Taught employees to manage stress and mistakes constructively, promoting conversations over confrontation.
- 3. Mindfulness in Safety Procedures: Emphasized integrating mindfulness into routine safety practices to boost attentiveness and protocol adherence.
- 4. Building Mindfulness as a Habit: Reinforced mindfulness with regular practice sessions, posters in high traffic areas, buddy systems, and habit formation strategies to sustain long-term behavioural change.
Program Execution and Monitoring:
The program was rolled out in phases over 12 months, with one module introduced each quarter to allow participants time for practice and feedback. Small-group discussions, real-time audits, and interactive activities ensured plant-specific relevance. Ongoing monitoring through data analytics and focused group discussions enabled course corrections during the program.
Outcome
Results:
By the end of the year, the plant saw a significant drop in safety incidents and improved adherence to protocols. Employees reported enhanced awareness, emotional control, and fewer confrontational episodes under stress. The program fostered collaborative problem-solving and built a culture of mindfulness that contributed to safer operations.
Key Takeaways:
- 1. Emotional Intelligence Reduces Safety Risks: Teaching employees to handle mistakes with emotional regulation fostered better teamwork and fewer confrontations.
- 2. Mindfulness as Part of Safety Protocols: Integrating mindfulness into daily routines ensured attentiveness and consistency in safety practices.
- 3. Sustained Impact through Habit Formation: Regular reinforcement of mindfulness habits ensured the longevity of safety improvements.
Conclusion:
Sthir’s year-long mindfulness program transformed the plant’s safety culture by promoting mindful behavior, emotional resilience, and collaborative interactions. Through its customized, data-driven approach, Sthir helped the organization build a safer, more aware workforce while significantly reducing incidents and improving well-being.
