Facility Rockstars | The Art of "Verbal Judo": De-escalation and Communication in Safety

The Art of "Verbal Judo": De-escalation and Communication in Safety | Zach Stublaski

July 17, 2025 / 43:34/E71

Zach Stublaski, an EHS Manager at Ocean Spray with over 20 years of real-world experience, shares his incredible journey through farming, the US Army as a military intelligence expert, serving as a deputy sheriff, working for OSHA, and his time in the oil and gas industry. He explains how this diverse background unexpectedly converged, providing him with a unique skill set for hazard recognition, problem-solving, and de-escalation. Throughout the conversation, Zach emphasizes that effective, transparent communication is the cornerstone of any successful EHS program and the key to building a proactive safety culture where employees understand the "why" behind every protocol.

Takeaways:

A Diverse Background is a Strength: Zach's experiences—from handling machinery on a farm to structured risk assessment in the military and impartial investigation in law enforcement—all contributed to his effectiveness as an EHS leader.
Master "Verbal Judo": A key skill learned in the police academy was "verbal judo," a method of talking to people to de-escalate tense situations and find common ground. This is crucial when interacting with individuals who may be upset or resistant to change.
Always Communicate the "Why": To get buy-in and overcome resistance to new policies, it is essential to be transparent and communicate why a change is being implemented. Sharing real-world examples helps people understand the importance of following safety protocols.
Build Credibility from the Ground Up: Having a hands-on background as a welder and mechanic helps build credibility with operational teams because it shows an understanding of their daily challenges.
View OSHA as a Resource: Instead of being feared, OSHA should be seen as a valuable resource. Their visit provides a "second set of eyes" to help companies find weaknesses and ultimately keep their workers safer.
Proactive Safety Prevents Backsliding: You cannot remain idle in safety; if you aren't constantly pushing forward and being proactive, the program will get worse. Zach equates it to walking up an escalator that is going down—you have to keep moving to make progress.
Seek to Understand, Not Just Respond: When dealing with people, especially during a conflict, it's critical to listen to understand their perspective rather than just listening to form a response.

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