The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is recommending that employers commemorate Labor Day by conducting a companywide safety audit as part of their efforts to protect workers.

The ASSE says safety audits are important because they help businesses be more proactive about safety and address problems before they result in an injury or illness.

"A safety audit is a tool occupational safety, health and environmental practitioners use to assess workplace hazards and risks and make recommendations for reducing these in an effort to prevent accidents, injuries and illnesses," says ASSE President Donald S. Jones, Sr. "With more than 5,000 people dying each year from on-the-job accidents and four million more suffering from workplace injuries and illnesses, we must continue to work diligently to protect our workers."

On Safety.BLR.com, you can find a how-to guide and other resources on safety audits here.