PPE Study Finds Confidence Doesn't Equal Compliance on the Jobsite
Confidence in workplace PPE programs is running far ahead of what’s actually happening on the shop floor and jobsite, ISHN reports in its coverage of the fourth annual 2026 PPE Pain Point Study, conducted with the International Safety Equipment Association.
Market Impact
Two-thirds of companies surveyed said they feel confident in their PPE resources, yet the same share reported daily compliance struggles among workers, according to ISHN’s report. The disconnect, discussed by J.J. Keller senior compliance expert Joe Proulx on the All Things Safety podcast, traces back to leadership writing safety protocols without input from the crews who actually wear the gear.
The numbers behind the noncompliance are specific: 56% of workers who skip PPE cite personal preference, and 48% believe the equipment isn’t necessary in the first place. More than 38% of companies say they struggle to properly fit female workers, a gap that turns into a real hazard when gloves are too big to safely operate machinery or gear is tight enough to restrict blood flow. Electrolyte solutions have hit 53% adoption for heat stress management, but smart PPE, wearables that can flag hazards or trigger incident alerts in real time, sits at just 5% adoption. Proulx attributed the low uptake to worker privacy concerns over data tracking and a general lack of understanding about what the technology does and doesn’t monitor. “People are now nervous that the employer is tracking something I don’t want them to know,” Proulx said, adding that better education on wearables’ actual function is needed before adoption climbs.
Proulx also pointed to OSHA’s revised PPE standard, 29 CFR 1926.95, which requires properly fitting equipment, as a compliance driver companies can’t afford to treat as a comfort issue rather than a citation risk.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Crews with 38%+ fit failure rates for female and non-standard-sized workers should audit glove, harness, and eyewear sizing now, since OSHA’s revised 29 CFR 1926.95 standard makes proper fit an enforceable requirement, not a comfort preference.
- Safety leads should hold direct crew conversations before rewriting PPE policy, since Proulx says programs fail when written in isolation from the people wearing the gear on shift.
- Field supervisors dealing with the 56% of workers citing personal preference for skipping PPE should shift from discipline-first enforcement toward hazard education and positive reinforcement, which Proulx says works better before consistent write-ups.
- Companies piloting wearables should budget for worker education on data privacy limits before rollout, given that privacy concerns and low understanding are holding smart PPE adoption to just 5% industry-wide.
- Establish a no-blame channel for workers to flag missing sizes or poor fit, since Proulx notes workers often stay silent to avoid being labeled complainers, delaying fixes that prevent injuries.
