J. J. Keller and ISEA Release Results of Annual Study of PPE Pain Points

J.J. Keller & Associate, Inc., a leading provider of safety and compliance solutions, and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) recently joined forces to conduct a comprehensive study on top challenges when it comes to managing PPE procurement and proper usage. The results of the study, titled “2025 PPE Pain Points Study: Top Trends and Challenges,” were released on March 12. The public can download the study report on the J. J. Keller® website, and members of ISEA can download the study report on the association’s website.

J.J. Keller and ISEA experts will host a free webcast titled “2025 PPE Pain Points Study: Key Insights, challenges, and solutions,” examining the greatest paint points and practical ways to address them, on April 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. central time. The public may register here.

Summary of Key Findings

• PPE Management Is Generally Strong. Of those responding to the survey, 95 percent completely or somewhat have the time and resources needed to properly assess PPE needs, and 70 percent talk with their employees regularly about PPE;
• Getting Employees to Always Wear PPE Continues to Be a Challenge. Over 75 percent of respondents reported that at least some of the time, they have difficulty getting employees to wear PPE;
• Durability is the Number One Criteria When Purchasing PPE. Over one-third of respondents prioritize durability, followed by comfort, emphasizing the need for PPE that workers can and will consistently wear;
• Challenges Occur in Finding PPE in Larger and Smaller Sizes. While 75 percent of respondents have not experienced problems buying PPE in the sizes they need, those who have had issues find difficulty locating larger and smaller sizes;
• Weather Is a Consideration, but There’s More Opportunity Here. While 84 percent of respondents factor weather conditions into PPE purchases, there is a growing need for more education on selecting PPE optimized for extreme temperatures;
• Women’s Sizing Are Increasingly Considered. More companies are prioritizing PPE designed for women, though nearly one-third of respondents still face challenges in finding properly fitting options; and
• Training Is a Challenge.  Nearly half of respondents struggle with training employees on critical PPE usage aspects, including when PPE is necessary, how to properly wear it, and its limitations.

Click here to download the report.