Modernizing Safety Investigations the Human Way with Crystal Blasius

The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management

"Mind-blowingly so, every three hours, there is a person or vehicle that negatively encounters railroad equipment. Every three hours." Crystal Blasius

OK, everyone, this one is powerful. In this episode of The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management, I sit down with Crystal Blasius, Director of Safety Investigations at Amtrak, to unpack her incredible journey from answering a newspaper ad to reshaping national railroad safety. Crystal shares how she’s modernizing investigation protocols, bringing human factors into safety management systems, and making space for inclusivity in a traditionally rigid industry. We also dive into the real human side of incident response, supporting investigators and first responders through mental health challenges.

Here are some of the topics that we explore:

• How standardizing safety investigation processes leads to consistent outcomes
• Why integrating human factors and SMS principles leads to effective incident investigations
• The critical importance of supporting first responders and investigation teams with mental health resources
• How to break down departmental silos and foster cross-functional communication in safety programs
• Why modernizing traditional industries requires both technical expertise and change management skills
• The path to creating more inclusive opportunities for women in historically male-dominated safety roles
• How to balance regulatory compliance with human-centered incident investigation approaches
• The essential role of open communication and standardized processes in building stronger safety cultures

Crystal Blasius is the Director of Safety Investigations at Amtrak, where she leads nationwide efforts to modernize incident investigation protocols and standardize practices across the rail network. With over 15 years in the industry, she’s risen from conductor to pioneering safety leader, known for reshaping training during COVID-19 and driving cross-functional collaboration. A passionate advocate through Operation Lifesaver, Crystal brings expertise in SMS, human factors, and inclusive leadership, redefining how the railroad industry approaches safety with both rigor and humanity.

Episode Resources:

• Crystal Blasius on LinkedIn
• Amtrak Website
• Michael Zalle on LinkedIn
• Yellow Bird Website
• The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Apple Podcasts
• The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management on Spotify