Steven Kirby · One Choice, One Life
Behavioural Safety Speaker UK
Why do experienced people make unsafe decisions?
Pressure. Familiarity. A concern left unspoken. The reassuring voice that says, “It’ll be alright.”
My behavioural safety keynote connects a near-fatal workplace accident with practical conversations about risk, human factors, leadership and speaking up.
Trusted by organisations across construction, engineering, utilities and infrastructure
Behavioural safety through lived experience
The decision before the incident
I spent twenty years working in construction and demolition. During a hydrostatic pressure test, I was in the line of fire when a pipe failed under pressure.
I survived. The consequences changed my life.
Physical recovery was only part of the story. PTSD, anxiety and depression followed. My recovery changed how I understand risk, workplace culture and the importance of asking for support.
One Choice, One Life
A behavioural safety keynote that makes it personal
My talk brings audiences into the choices and pressures surrounding my accident, including the moment I told myself it would be okay.
We explore how confidence can be mistaken for competence, how shortcuts become familiar and what happens when concerns are not heard.
The aim is to help people recognise these influences in their own work, pause when something feels wrong and start a conversation before an incident happens.
What audiences explore
Three conversations that matter at work
Relevant to site teams, supervisors, safety managers and senior leaders, with examples connected to your audience and event priorities.
01 / RISK
When familiar work starts to feel safe
Complacency, repeated shortcuts, assumptions and the difference between feeling confident and being competent. What has changed, and what needs checking?
02 / PRESSURE
What influences a decision?
Time pressure, fatigue, stress, workload and communication can affect attention and judgement. We look at both individual choices and the conditions in which people work.
03 / CULTURE
Making it easier to speak up
Why people hesitate to challenge a task, how colleagues can intervene constructively and how leaders respond when someone raises a concern or stops work.
Human factors and safety culture
Understand the conditions behind the behaviour
Even experienced, motivated people can make mistakes. Human factors considers the task, the person and the organisation together, including equipment, workload, communication and leadership.
Personal responsibility matters alongside practical procedures, effective supervision and the resources to do the job safely. Looking beyond the last action helps teams ask better questions about why it made sense at the time.
Questions to take back to work
- Do I understand the task and have the competence to carry it out?
- What has changed since we planned the work?
- Is pressure making a shortcut feel acceptable?
- Can I raise a concern, and will someone act on it?
- What could we change to make safe work easier?
Practical takeaways
What your audience can take away
- A clearer understanding of the influences behind everyday safety decisions.
- Questions that challenge unsafe assumptions and overconfidence.
- Ways to start conversations about risk and intervene respectfully.
- Awareness of how wellbeing, stress and fatigue can affect work.
- Reflection on how leaders encourage reporting and respond to concerns.
The keynote supports your wider safety programme alongside task-specific training, risk controls and effective supervision.
Who it is for
Site teams to leadership teams
Construction and civil engineering: principal contractors, subcontractors and infrastructure projects.
Engineering and utilities: teams in water, power, gas and other high-risk working environments.
Manufacturing: operations where routines, changing conditions and production pressures shape decisions.
Leaders and supervisors: people responsible for planning work, listening to concerns and strengthening safety culture.
Client feedback
What people say after the talk
“Highly recommend Steve and his story to any organisation looking to promote behavioural safety and positively change mindsets.”
“One of the best, most relatable and relevant speeches I’ve heard during my time working in HSE.”
Booking formats
Bring the conversation to your event
Available for in-person events across the UK and Europe, with live virtual options by arrangement.
Safety stand-downs and safety weeks
A focused opportunity to reflect on everyday decisions, changing risks and looking out for colleagues.
Conferences and industry events
A behavioural safety keynote speaker bringing a personal story and practical questions to your wider programme.
Safety leadership events
A conversation about the messages leaders send, the pressures teams face and what happens when concerns are raised.
Safety and mental wellbeing programmes
Connect workplace risk with stress, focus, the impact of an incident and the confidence to seek support.
Planning your event
Behavioural safety speaking questions
What does a human factors speaker cover?
Human factors explores how the job, the individual and the organisation influence performance. My keynote approaches this through lived experience, covering pressure, competence, communication, wellbeing and leadership, with questions audiences can apply to their own workplace.
How long is the behavioural safety keynote?
A typical keynote lasts around an hour. We can discuss timing, Q&A and your event format when you enquire, so the session fits your audience and programme.
Do you travel outside Yorkshire?
Yes. I am based in Beverley, East Yorkshire, and speak across the UK and Europe, including Ireland. Share your location and preferred date when checking availability.
Can you deliver a virtual talk?
Live virtual delivery, including Microsoft Teams, can be arranged. Recording is not permitted; please discuss any streaming requirements when booking.
Can the session reflect our workplace priorities?
Yes. Tell me about your audience, industry and aims, such as reporting culture, confidence versus competence or decision making under pressure. We will agree the emphasis and format before the event.
Book Steven Kirby
Bring One Choice, One Life to your team
Looking for a behavioural safety speaker for your next safety stand-down, conference or leadership event? Send your preferred date, location, audience and aims. I’ll reply personally to discuss your event.