ISEA and the J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights announced the release of the聽2026 PPE Pain Points Study: Top Trends and Challenges, a collaborative research effort examining how organizations are managing personal protective equipment (PPE) and the obstacles that continue to affect worker protection.
Now in its fourth year, the annual PPE Pain Points Study analyzes PPE program management across industries and company sizes. Findings show that while most organizations have established PPE programs, compliance, comfort, fit, and safety culture remain persistent challenges.
鈥淧PE protects more than 125 million workers in the United States, but protection only works when equipment is worn correctly and consistently,鈥� said Cam Mackey, president and CEO of ISEA. 鈥淭his study highlights where PPE programs are making progress and where additional focus is needed to better support workers and improve real鈥憌orld safety outcomes.鈥�
Key findings:
- Compliance remains the top PPE challenge, with more than two鈥憈hirds of organizations reporting they struggle to get employees to consistently wear required PPE.
- Comfort and durability are the leading PPE purchasing criteria, yet some organizations (17%) still struggle to find PPE that fits all workers properly, particularly women (38%).
- Employee involvement in PPE selection is limited, despite evidence that input by workers improves comfort, acceptance, and consistent use.
- Safety culture gaps persist, including inconsistent enforcement (51%) and uneven communication around PPE expectations.
- Smart PPE adoption remains low, with only a small percentage (5%) of organizations currently using connected or sensor鈥慹nabled PPE.
鈥淵ear after year, the data reinforces the human side of PPE compliance,鈥� said Bob Larsen, vice president of research and development at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. 鈥淭hese insights can help safety leaders focus on the necessary changes that can improve PPE use, strengthen programs, and ultimately reduce injuries.鈥�
The full report provides detailed results, year鈥憃ver鈥憏ear comparisons, and practical tips and best practices to help organizations improve PPE program effectiveness and worker safety.
ISEA and J. J. Keller will discuss key findings and implications during a free webcast on June 2, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. central time.聽. Attendees will also gain access to the full聽2026 PPE Pain Points Study: Top Trends and Challenges study report.