The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has named Steven Thygerson its 2025 Safety Professional of the Year. The environmental and occupational health professor at Brigham Young University has been instrumental in advancing workplace safety and health through education, research, advocacy and global outreach.
Thygerson, Ph.D., MSPH, CIH, inspires the next generation of safety and health professionals by mentoring students and teaching courses that bridge academic knowledge and real-world application. His leadership in study abroad programs has created hands-on experiences in workplace safety around the world. Since 2010, Thygerson has been the faculty advisor for the flourishing ASSP Student Section at Brigham Young.
“Dr. Thygerson is a master educator who leverages a decade of industry experience to enrich his teaching,” said Joshua West, Ph.D., MPH, professor and chair of the Department of Public Health at Brigham Young. “He consistently receives exceptional student evaluations, with feedback emphasizing his alignment with our mission of character building, intellectual growth and lifelong learning.”
Thygerson has conducted groundbreaking research around the globe, particularly in developing countries. He has collaborated with institutions in Nepal, Thailand, Peru, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Mozambique. He worked to improve health standards for brick makers, a sector known for hazardous working conditions.
Thygerson has written and collaborated on more than 50 books, articles and publications, and has presented at nearly 75 national and international conferences. He advocates for safety and health through many volunteer positions, including with the Utah Passenger Ropeway Safety Board, Utah County Trauma Executive Team, Workplace Health Without Borders and the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.
“You would have to look long and hard to find somebody who truly cares about the safety and welfare of people more than Steve,” said Douglas Handy, CSP retired, former president of ASSP’s Utah Chapter. “He is willing to help anyone, and those around him feel his care and concern. He is a leader with integrity.”
Thygerson previously was named Safety Professional of the Year in ASSP’s Utah Chapter and Region 2. He has helped unite Utah’s major universities through collaborative efforts to strengthen safety education and training.
Thygerson will be honored at ASSP’s Safety 2025 Professional Development Conference and Exposition, held July 22-24 in Orlando. The global event will bring together thousands of safety professionals to learn about best practices, industry trends and the latest product innovations in workplace safety and health.
Each year, ASSP honors an environmental health and safety professional who demonstrates outstanding achievement in the safety field while making significant contributions to advancing the profession. Visit the Society’s website to see past recipients of the ASSP Safety Professional of the Year Award.
