From Volunteer Firefighter to VP of a National Safety Program

Episode notes

I sat down with Chris Braamse to discuss EHS management and building a safety culture that actually lasts. As the VP of DH Pace, Chris oversees 60 locations and shares how he uses a regional safety management approach to keep travel manageable for his team. We dive into injury prevention programs and how his background as a volunteer firefighter led him to an unexpected safety degree program. Chris proves that whether you are in food manufacturing or construction, the core principles of hazard recognition and OSHA compliance are universal. You will hear about his "say what you do, do what you say" philosophy and how he integrates acquisitions without the usual friction. This episode is packed with insights on safety career growth and why keeping things simple is the key to scaling a national program effectively. What You'll Learn: How universal safety principles like lockout tagout and PPE apply across wildly different sectors. The structural secrets of the hub and spoke model for overseeing dozens of sites with a lean team. Why intentional industry changes can prevent professional stagnation and deepen your problem solving toolkit.