Keeping Your Cool When Safety Gets Heated

Have you ever:

1. Asked one too many questions on site and suddenly found yourself labelled “difficult”?
2. Ever had someone absolutely lose it at you, and you’re left standing there wondering what on earth just happened?
3. Or maybe you were the one who lost it… and regretted it 30 seconds later?

You’re not alone!

In this webinar, I’ll share three real-world scenarios from my own career across rail, construction, and oil & gas. We’ll examine some moments that I got it right, the moments I absolutely didn’t, and the tools I now use to navigate high-pressure conversations with clarity and dignity.

We'll Explore:

• How timing, context and relationships shape whether your message lands or explodes.
• What to do when someone loses their temper at you in front of an audience.
• Powerful questions that defuse conflict and uncover what’s really going on.
• Practical tools to regulate your own emotions when you’re the one getting triggered.
• When to pick up the rope, and when to put it down and walk away.

If you work in HSE, construction, education, leadership, or any role where tough conversations are part of the job, this session will give you simple, repeatable strategies you can use immediately.

Let’s build safer, calmer, more human-centred workplaces, one conversation at a time.

Your presenter: Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas is an experienced HSE professional who began her career in safety in 2002. However, as a surf lifeguard, professional ski patroller, outdoor instructor and volunteer St John ambulance officer, she has lived and breathed safety from a young age. Her six years with the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserves also gave her advanced command and communication training.

Sarah gained a BA/LLB at the University of Canterbury and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (HSE) from Massey University. She has worked as a safety coordinator, safety specialist and National HSE/Human Resources Manager.

During her career, Sarah has helped develop nationwide health and safety systems and has experience in a range of industries including transport, oil, manufacturing and the Department of Conservation. She launched her consulting career in 2011.

In terms of her personality profile, Sarah is outgoing and has an inclusive style of communication developed after years of regularly attending Toastmasters meetings. Her clients describe her as facilitative; however, she can be direct and hold people accountable when necessary. Along with a sense of humour, she has an innate ability to find the root cause of a problem and guide her clients to develop a solution that is written in their own language and meets their operational needs.

Formal Qualifications and Professional Designations

1999 BA /LLB
2005 Grad Dip Bus Admin (HSE)
NZQA Accredited Assessor Workplace Health and Safety
Professional NZISM
HASANZ Registered
2024 Accredited Safe + Assessor

Have your questions ready!