Safety engineers give professor national award
A USU professor has been given an award by a national organization for his work mitigating hazards in the workplace.
David Wallace was named Safety Professional of the Year by the Utah chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
Wallace, a principal lecturer in the department of biology, received the award at an annual Utah Conference on Safety and Industrial Hygiene early this month.
“It was a complete surprise,” Wallace said. “They sprang it on me at the conference.”
Wallace said while it was a shock, receiving the award was exciting.
“It’s quite an honor,” Wallace said. “It’s a recognition of my influence and contributions to the profession as a whole and also a recognition of my long service. I’m proud of it, and I’m pleased.”
Wallace said he has focused on recognizing, evaluating and controlling hazards in workplaces since the 1980s.
“My whole career is safety and industrialized hygiene,” Wallace said. “It’s a good profession. It helps people.”
The award, which is given to recognize a safety professional who has had a major impact on the profession, was presented to Wallace by ASSE’s Utah chapter president Nathan Spencer, senior safety, health and environmental manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Spencer, a USU alumnus and former student of Wallace, said presenting the award to a former teacher was a great experience for him.
“It was an honor for me to present the award to Dave,” Spencer said. “He was one of the guys who kind of coached and mentored me in the profession. Dave has been a good friend for me as I’ve gone through the profession.”
Spencer said the SPY award is not easy to receive.
“We take nominations from over 300 safety professionals in the Utah and Wyoming area, and the officers of the Utah chapter vote on it and make a decision on who to give that award to,” Spencer said.
He said there are no specific qualifications to be nominated for the award.
“We look at all safety professionals who have made an impact on the profession,” Spencer said. “Wallace has made quite the impact.”
Spencer said Wallace was selected for the award because of his contribution to, and impact he’s had, in the the safety, health and environmental profession.
“Dave has had a great impact on many of us through his teaching and professional roles,” Spencer said. “He’s mentored many, many students through the profession. That’s why he was chosen.”
Alan Savitzky, professor and head of the department of biology said Wallace was an excellent choice for the award.
“My immediate reaction was that he was an ideal choice for this,” Savitzky said. “He’s a highly respected member of his profession and a very highly regarded member of our faculty.”
Savitzky said Wallace has had a major impact on the Environmental Health and Safety program.
“Our public health program is a signature program for this department,” Savitzky said. “It’s a nationally parliament program in public health, and he’s one of the major contributors to that. His role as the advisor for all of our public health students is really central to the program itself. We’re simply fortunate to have him on our faculty.”
Savitzky said the award has a positive impact on the department.
“It’s recognition that our program is identified statewide for the high quality of instruction and mentorship that we provide the students,” Savitzky said. “It’s a really stellar program and I think the award itself, by recognizing his individual achievements and qualities and contributions, it also reflects more broadly on the program as a whole.”
Savitzky said the award is well-deserved recognition of Wallace’s work in the profession.
“I think it’s the recognition of Dave’s individual qualities as a leader in that program and as a faculty member,” Savitzky said. “It was a very good choice.”
– katelinch@gmail.com