This (especially this) has nothing to do with you.
If he's going to get to "the end of his string" over incidents like this, there is absolutely NOTHING you can do to prevent it, therefore there is nothing for you to do here except to keep on your path. Don't get reactive and try to manage/calm his emotions. I'm sure you can see how that is the worst thing you could do, for *both* of you.
The less you react to these tempests-in-a-teacup, the sooner he will abandon that (conscious or unconscious) tactic. IMHO.
"Show me a completely smooth operation and I'll show you someone who's covering mistakes. Real boats rock." -- Frank Herbert
