UND’s director of safety wins national award

National Safety Council honors Marcus Simpson for outstanding service and contributions

UND Director of Safety Marcus Simpson was one of eight individuals to receive the 2023 Distinguished Service to Safety Award this week from the National Safety Council.

Simpson was presented the award during the Opening Session of the 2023 NSC Congress & Safety Expo, held Oct. 23 in New Orleans.

This national award recognizes outstanding service and contributions to the field of safety and has been awarded by the NSC since 1942.

In addition to his complimentary trip to the expo, Simpson also received an engraved medallion commemorating his 20-plus-year career and service to others.

“The magnitude of the moment doesn’t hit you until you’re on the stage in front of thousands of your peers,” Simpson said after receiving his award. “This has been a wonderful experience with a truly professional organization.”

Simpson, who was hired as director of safety in December 2022, has experience in environment, health and safety (EHS) roles across many industries and holds numerous certifications, including as a Master Safety Professional.

For UND, Simpson develops, implements and maintains the University’s EHS programs while also providing interpretation and guidance across campus to maintain compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

“The prestigious Distinguished Service to Safety Awards honor the unique, individual efforts made by those who value safety above all else,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO. “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.”

Rodney Clark, UND associate vice president for public safety and chief of police, said Simpson has “revolutionized” the safety culture of UND.

“In less than a year on the job, he has set standards and been an advocate for more resources – changing the paradigm to put safety at the forefront of University operations,” Clark said. “Marcus is my hand and voice for the safety side of the organization and is committed to making the campus a better, safer environment for all.”

About the National Safety Council

The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.

For more information about the Distinguished Service to Safety Award, as well as other NSC awards, visit nsc.org/awards.