On October 23, 2023, SafeStart author Larry Wilson received the Distinguished Service to Safety Award. This award is presented annually at the opening session of the National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo (the largest annual gathering of safety and health professionals worldwide) in New Orleans and Larry was among the eight recipients this year.
According to the NSC, the first Distinguished Service to Safety Award (1942) was presented to recognize individuals and companies who supported workers and reduced occupational injuries during World War II. Today, it is the highest honor given to a safety professional by the NSC.
NSC President and CEO Lorraine Martin said, “Each honoree has helped make our world a safer place, and by honoring their achievements, we can set the bar for what’s possible and inspire others to pursue our shared goal of eliminating preventable deaths and injuries.”
Recognizable names from SafeStart have also received this honor in the past, including Gary Higbee and Tim Page-Bottorff. Speaking about the award, a humbled Larry said with great pride,
“Gary was a forward-thinking safety professional at [major companies] for 40 years and Tim has been incredibly active in the safety community/NSC and ASSP whereas I have only been involved with SafeStart. So I think this award is more about SafeStart, and the contribution that SafeStart has made as a whole than it is about me. What we have done takes tremendous effort, hard work and perseverance. So, thanks very much to everyone involved and congratulations to all of you for the recognition the NSC has given to SafeStart, and the contribution that SafeStart has made to industrial safety, safety at home, safety in the community, sports and on the road.”
Decades ago, Larry recognized the need for a program that went beyond the limitations of BBS, and he went on to develop SafeStart as a result. The program officially launched in 1998 and has evolved to include several human factors training processes tailored to fit multiple needs. He is also a published author of two books and many industry articles, and as well as being a sought-after speaker in the safety industry. His modesty aside, Larry has made a huge difference in the safety industry and is a thought leader in human factors management who more than deserves this award. Warmest congratulations, Larry!