These are not just religious virtues but human virtues.

So many I know come into risk and safety with a passion for others, care for harm and a desire to help.

What we learned from Rosa Carrillo’s book is that these virtues rarely find opportunity to flourish in the risk and safety world, they encounter (https://safetyrisk.net/ohs-voices-from-the-resistance-rosa-carrillo/) significant other expectations.

In the confessions in Rosa’s interviews, the most pronounced challenge was a demonstrated lack of grace and gratitude in the workplace.

Plenty in risk and safety go well more than the ‘extra mile’ in what they do.

I spoke to a safety person last week and she expressed her exasperation between her expectations of what safety is about and what the industry expected her to do. The disconnect between the passion and will to serve and, the demands to focus on objects, is soul destroying. And in the end, what emerges is the expressed outcome, ‘oh well, it’s just a job’.

As in Rosa’s book, the passion and care erodes often due to the demand to perform a thankless task. When care and helping are offered and there is no grace or gratitude, it’s hard to press on. Or, some leave and others just continue to submit the injury rate report each month. Rosa’s work showed that over 50% in the industry think of leaving. It’s a tough gig.

When so many give sacrificially to others, what can help them hold on, is grace and gratitude. Rare virtues found at work, where crusades and complaint reign supreme in the politics of work and a dehumanizing culture of expected policing.

So, to those who continue to want to serve others, care for persons and be a helper. Thanks to you, for holding in there, the industry needs you.