You might consider responding with a mix of curiosity and encouragement. Here’s a suggestion:
"That's an interesting perspective! Testing safety equipment sounds like a thrilling job, and I can see how the potential risks could make it exciting. I admire your approach to separating work from your passions—it makes a lot of sense to keep some hobbies as a refuge! What specific aspects of safety equipment testing do you find most intriguing? And have you thought about what you would want to do with your time off when you aren’t working?"