It was a perfect opportunity to test the conclusions I had drawn from my multiple interviews for my book, OHS Voices from the Resistance.
Author, Rosa Antonia Carrillo
I had the privilege of addressing the Region 1 ASSP leaders at their annual ROC meeting. Imagine my surprise when I arrived and saw 50 copies of my book, Health and Safety Leadership Strategy on the back table. They had mentioned using my book as a giveaway, but I didn’t know they were going to give one to all attendees! It was indeed a room full of OHS Voices from the Resistance!
My message was serious. I told them I knew from my interviews that 50% of OHS advisors were thinking of quitting their jobs, and that most of them in that room did not feel that they were supported in their work and aligned with their organizations. Even those who felt successful did not feel appreciated. They were brave with the show hands, they agreed. Then the stories began, describing the disrespect and blindness of the people they worked for.
OHS Voices in Action!
There is no doubt that the people in that room were fully committed to preventing injuries and fatalities. They were part of the OHS Voices from the Resistance. What I do worry about is that when I asked them what they could do as a leadership group to improve conditions for safety and health practitioners, they were puzzled by the question. The answers reverted to describing the challenges of the work. I asked one directly, “Are you not an influencer?” They answered “no.” I was happy that another person at the table said, “yes you are!”
This example serves to demonstrate how a simple conversation can open people’s minds and awareness as to their own personal power to change things. But if you remain talking about forms and procedures and how to prevent lawsuits, nothing will change. Incidentally, I was recently involved in an executive level conversation where the risk that they were more most concerned with was liability. So the origin of this myopic view comes from on high.
I challenge institutions such as the ASSP to begin helping the folks that play leadership roles in their organization to think strategically. Can they get beyond filling out the correct forms and how to design email communications to be effective.
I also have felt sidelined many times. I’ve written about some of those experiences. But sometimes I do feel alone, and I called a friend. I recently spoke with Earl Carnes about how many of the folks I interviewed for OHS Voices get to the point of burnout. Wasn’t I surprised when someone of his stature said he sometimes feels the same. He once wrote:
“To avoid despair — Spend time with people who do the work; talk with them, walk with them, observe the conditions in which they work, notice their tools, listen to their stories. Don’t become a true believer (read Eric Hoffer). Read to understand different perspectives, different models; don’t ‘believe’ any of them because there is no one truth. Seek to learn different ways of communicating with different audiences. Then try to help people develop new insights, not your truths, but them developing different ways of seeing, processing and knowing; a process of learning, not some state of nir- vana defined by a self-ordained guru.” Earl Carnes
It is a welcome reminder, that I am not alone, none of us are alone, and it is good to reach out when we feel that way. There was a group at the ASSP retreat who had found a place where they do belong. As they raised their hands, I encouraged those who had not found their place to network with them. I wonder if they did?
You can check out and buy OHS Voices from the resistance here at https://carrilloconsultants.com/product/voices-from-the-resistance/ 
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