Beyond the Blame Game: Dr. Tom Krause on Real Safety Leadership

Sit down with Dr. Tom Krause, behavior-based safety pioneer, co-founder of BST (now within DEKRA), and partner at Krause Bell Group as he traces how safety leadership has fundamentally changed over the decades. From a foundation in clinical psychology to industry-wide innovation, Dr. Krause explains why behavior must be understood in context and how stopping at “the employee is at fault” blocks real improvement.The discussion connects Deming’s thinking to modern practice, examines where Heinrich’s model can mislead leaders, and tackles cultural barriers that stall progress. Dr. Krause also unpacks how decision analysis prevents serious harm before it happens, shares lessons from NASA’s post‑Columbia journey, and shows why upward communication and authentic leadership sponsorship are non‑negotiable for a resilient safety culture.Whether leading EHS, running operations, or simply committed to safer work, this conversation distills decades of field experience into practical insight. Plug in to challenge assumptions, find better questions, and redefine what effective safety leadership looks like today.See Corrie’s story and many more at https://bissafety.ca/safety-spotlight-podcasts.