The Canary Report: Episode One - Brett Smith

Safety leadership is changing—and The Canary Report is here to lead the conversation.

On this episode of The Canary Report, host Michael Zalle speaks with Brett Smith, Global Safety Director at Gardner Builders, about transforming safety culture in high-risk construction environments. They discuss mental health support, building trust with subcontractors, and human-centered leadership. Brett shares practical strategies, from transparent communication to OSHA collaboration, that enhance both physical and psychological safety. Discover how humility, assertiveness, and real-time feedback can drive meaningful change in safety programs without sacrificing productivity.

What you will learn:

• How to implement wellness spaces to support mental health and personal needs on construction sites
• Why transparent leadership and vulnerability are crucial for building trust in safety 
• The framework for partnering with OSHA consultation services to improve safety 
• How to leverage third-party administrators and safety committees 
• Why "root cause analysis" must evolve toward human-centered incident investigation
• The three pillars of effective safety leadership: transparency, assertiveness, and humility
• Building relationships with subcontractors while maintaining safety standards
• The strategy for implementing quarterly standardized safety training programs