Compliance cracks: New report reveals why workers refuse PPE
ISEA and the J.J. Keller Center for Market Insights recently released their 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.
“PPE protects more than 125 million workers in the United States, but protection only works when equipment is worn correctly and consistently,” ISEA CEO Cam Mackey said in a news release. “This study highlights where PPE programs are making progress and where additional focus is needed to better support workers and improve real‑world safety outcomes.”
Key findings in the study include:
- Compliance remains the top PPE challenge, with more than two‑thirds 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‑enabled PPE.
ISEA and J.J. Keller will discuss these findings and their implications during a free June 2 webcast. Attendees will gain access to the full report, which provides detailed results, year‑over‑year comparisons, and practical tips and best practices to help organizations improve PPE program effectiveness and worker safety.
“Year after year, the data reinforces the human side of PPE compliance,” said Bob Larsen, J.J. Keller & Associates vice president of research and development. “These insights can help safety leaders focus on the necessary changes that can improve PPE use, strengthen programs, and ultimately reduce injuries.”