Brigham Young University Professor Steven Thygerson received the 2025 National Safety Professional of the Year Award from the American Society of Safety Professionals for his outstanding work in the Occupational Safety and Health field.
Receiving this award is the greatest honor that the American Society of Safety Professionals can bestow, with only 46 individuals having received the award since its inception in 1980.
“It’s quite an honor,” Thygerson said. “It’s a peer-nominated award and… to be nominated by those who have known you for a long time, it’s quite an honor, so I'm flattered.”
This award is given to individuals who have done outstanding work in the field of Public Health within the last five years, advancing occupational safety and health through community outreach, education, and significant contributions to the field.
Dr. Thygerson stands out as a decorated member of his field having also won the Utah Chapter and Region II Chapter for Safety Professional of the Year alongside BYU’s Outstanding Research Award and IOHA’s Collaboration Award for his work.
Yet even with his incredible accolades, Dr. Thygerson reflects on how his consistent research and outreach have expanded occupational health and safety on a global scale.
“It gives you perspectives.” Dr. Thygerson said. “One of the things I’m passionate about is training our students to then go over... and take on the challenges of occupational health and safety.
While being a leading member in this field, Dr. Thygerson turns his attention back to teaching and advancing the field through educating students at Brigham Young University.
Thygerson explained, “We have a lot of students who are very interested in global research or global work… What I try to bring into the classrooms is showing them, say, a brick kiln.”
Brick kilns are the primary tool for creating bricks in countries such as Nepal. Thygerson uses them to show the difference in tools and conditions workers have to face.
Thygerson elaborated, “I think that kind of opens their eyes to people. That there’s these types of conditions around the world and then what’s something small we can do to bring light to that.”
Dr. Thygerson continues to look towards the future and still what’s to come within the public health field.
“I’ve actually started dabbling a little bit in some research with AI… there’s lots of researchers who are focusing on that… to see where we can go with that.” Thygerson said.
Yet even with the awards, the main reward and goal of Dr. Thygerson’s work is the continuing betterment of the global and public health field.
“I would like to continue to grow my global health internships,” Thygerson said. “Make it a little easier for… some of the challenges that come with being an international researcher in some of these countries.”
Dr. Steve Thygerson will be honored in Orlando at the American Society of Safety Professionals’ Development Conference in July 2025.
