From Ministry to Safety Leadership: The People-First Approach with Hal Wheatley

What if the key to safer job sites isn’t more rules, but more humanity? In this episode of The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management, host Michael Zalle sits down with Hal Wheatley, Corporate Safety Director at Manhattan Construction Group, for a frank conversation about what it really takes to lead safety well. Hal shares how his transition from ministry to safety leadership taught him that genuine care for people, not just policies, drives lasting change. If you're tired of the “safety cop” label and looking for a better way, this one’s for you. It’s about relationships, trust, and building a culture that actually protects people.

What if the key to safer job sites isn’t more rules, but more humanity?

In this episode of The Canary Report: Safety & Risk Management, host Michael Zalle sits down with Hal Wheatley, Corporate Safety Director at Manhattan Construction Group, for a frank conversation about what it really takes to lead safety well. Hal shares how his transition from ministry to safety leadership taught him that genuine care for people, not just policies, drives lasting change. If you're tired of the “safety cop” label and looking for a better way, this one’s for you. It’s about relationships, trust, and building a culture that actually protects people.

Here are some of the topics that we discuss:

How to transform safety leadership from "safety cop" to trusted advocate
Why focusing on people rather than numbers creates more effective safety programs
The framework for unifying safety culture across multiple regions
How to leverage incident reporting and cross-team collaboration
Why proactive safety metrics and open communication channels drive better outcomes
The connection between family-oriented corporate culture and successful safety programs
How to build effective safety programs that balance regulatory compliance with genuine care for worker wellbeing
The importance of transparent safety conversations at all levels of an organization

Hal Wheatley is the Corporate Safety Director at Manhattan Construction, with over 30 years of experience spanning manufacturing, logistics, and construction. Known for his people-first leadership style, Hal draws on a diverse background, including roles as a pastor and safety coordinator, to transform safety culture through trust and authenticity. He leads safety efforts across eight regions and iconic projects like AT&T Stadium. With a degree in Environmental Health and Safety Management, Hal believes safety is ultimately about caring for people, not just compliance.

Episode Resources:

Hal Wheatley on LinkedIn
Manhattan Construction Group 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