Two-Thirds of Organizations Struggle With PPE Compliance, 2026 Study Finds
According to ISHN, the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and the J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights have released the 2026 PPE Pain Points Study: Top Trends and Challenges, a collaborative research effort now in its fourth year examining how organizations manage personal protective equipment and the obstacles that continue to undermine worker protection.
Key Findings: Compliance and Comfort Still Falling Short
The study’s headline number is stark. More than two-thirds of organizations report they struggle to get employees to consistently wear required PPE, making compliance the top challenge identified in the research.
Comfort and durability rank as the leading purchasing criteria, yet 17% of organizations still have trouble finding PPE that fits all workers properly. That gap is more pronounced for women, with 38% of organizations reporting difficulty sourcing properly fitting equipment for female workers.
Other persistent problems include inconsistent enforcement of PPE requirements, cited by 51% of respondents, and uneven communication around PPE expectations. Employee involvement in PPE selection also remains limited, despite research indicating that worker input improves comfort, acceptance, and consistent use.
On the technology front, adoption of smart or connected PPE remains minimal, with only 5% of organizations currently using sensor-enabled equipment.
“PPE protects more than 125 million workers in the United States, but protection only works when equipment is worn correctly and consistently,” said Cam Mackey, president and CEO of ISEA.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Compliance is a program problem, not just a worker problem. If two-thirds of organizations are struggling, subcontractors should audit whether their enforcement processes and communication around PPE expectations are consistent across jobsites and crews.
- Fit matters, especially for mixed workforces. With 38% of organizations struggling to find properly fitting PPE for women, subcontractors with diverse crews should review their PPE procurement to ensure equipment is available in appropriate sizes and styles.
- Involve workers in PPE selection. The study flags limited employee involvement as a contributing factor to poor compliance. Bringing field crews into the selection process is a practical, low-cost step that can improve daily wear rates.
- Don’t wait on smart PPE. With only 5% adoption across industries, connected PPE is not yet a mainstream requirement, but subcontractors should monitor the category as it matures.
ISEA and J. J. Keller will host a free webcast on June 2, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. central time to discuss the study’s findings. Attendees will also receive access to the full report.
