Safety Organizations Urge OSHA to Update PPE Standards
A coalition of nine safety groups petitioned OSHA to align federal regulations with modern innovations in eye, head and first aid protection.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Mar 12, 2026
The ISEA and eight other prominent safety organizations have formally petitioned OSHA to update regulatory references for several key personal protective equipment standards.
The petition requests that OSHA modernize its references for standards governing eye and face protection, occupational head protection and workplace first aid kits. Many current OSHA regulations rely on consensus standards that are decades old, with some dating back to 1989.
According to the petitioners, these outdated references do not account for significant advancements in safety science, materials and testing methods that have occurred over the last 35 years. The proposed updates would align federal regulations with the most recent versions of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1, Z89.1 and Z308.1.
The organizations stated that the updates would affect more than 125 million American workers who rely on PPE and emergency equipment. Modernized standards include improvements such as enhanced impact testing, clearer product markings and updated guidance for biological hazards and workplace first aid.
“Safety regulations should reflect the best knowledge and protective practices available today—not from decades ago,” said Cam Mackey, president and CEO of the ISEA. “Updating these references is a straightforward step OSHA can take to ensure its regulations keep pace with innovation.”
The petition notes that updating these incorporated references would align OSHA regulations with current industry best practices without imposing additional regulatory costs, as many manufacturers already design and test equipment according to the more recent standards.
The groups supporting the petition include:
- American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN)
- ABSA International: Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity
- American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
- American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
- International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA)
- Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)
- Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)
- National Safety Council (NSC)
- The Vision Council
A full copy of the petition can be viewed here.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.