The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) released ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, the updated American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

As jobsite risks evolve, more employers are reevaluating head protection and adopting solutions that go beyond minimum requirements to help reduce serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries.

“This isn’t a routine update—it’s the roadmap for an industry transformation,” said Cam Mackey, ISEA president and CEO. “With head injuries accounting for nearly 700 worker fatalities in the last year, and major employers now mandating enhanced protection, this standard provides the technical framework the industry has been waiting for.”

ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 is referenced in Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and remains the primary benchmark for industrial head protection. The 2026 revision does not replace existing requirements or make current compliant head protection obsolete. ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 maintains the familiar type and class classifications used throughout the industry. Type I and II designations address impact and penetration protection, while Class designations address electrical protection performance.

The 2026 revision establishes optional testing criteria for features that are increasingly being considered by safety professionals and employers across a wide range of industries.

“This update is important because it helps everyone speak the same language: manufacturers, safety teams and workers in the field,” said Tim Gallant, chair of the ISEA Head Protection Product Group and vice president of product at Ergodyne. “ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 keeps the trusted foundation in place, but it also adds new optional testing criteria that reflect what safety professionals are asking for and what workers are relying on every day.”

Key updates include:

• New Designation “+” indicates enhanced performance: Identifies head protection tested beyond the base standard for retention, chin strap performance, and (for Type I+) expanded impact protection.
  • Type I+: chin strap, enhanced retention, and multi-directional impact protection
  • Type II+: chin strap and enhanced retention (with Type II impact protection)
• Enhanced tests tied to the “+” marking:
  • Chin strap retention: keeps head protection secured during impact/falls
  • Helmet retention: stays properly positioned during slips/trips
  • Multi-point impact: front/rear/side protection (Type I+)
• Guidance for reverse wearing: Adds new checks for “+” head protection to ensure it stays securely on the head when worn in reverse.
• Environmental/visibility markings: Maintains HT (high temp) and LT (low temp) markings, and updates “High Visibility (HV)” to “Enhanced Visibility (EV)” to reflect that head protection falls outside the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard for high visibility apparel. No change to visibility performance.

These updates standardize features already widely available in head protection today, making it easier for safety professionals to evaluate options and match protection to specific jobsite hazards.

“Safety teams are seeing more head protection options than ever before, and workers deserve confidence in what those markings mean,” said Stacey Simmons, vice chair of the ISEA Head Protection Product Group and strategic account executive at Bullard. “This revision helps make head protection selection more straightforward by defining consistent test methods for features many employers are already looking for.”

 ISEA emphasizes that head protection should always be selected based on actual jobsite hazards. While enhanced options such as Type I+ and Type II+ provide additional protection, not every job requires the same approach.

“ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 helps safety professionals make more informed decisions by adding clarity and consistency to features they’re already evaluating,” Mackey said.

For a copy of ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, click here. To learn more about industrial head protection, click here.

Ahead of Thank Your Cleaner Day (Oct. 14), new data reveals a disconnect between public appreciation and cleaner burnout, reinforcing the need to support the front-line workforce. While most (56%) of restroom users agree that cleaning is hard work and that cleaning teams deserve more recognition, 21% admit they mean to thank cleaners when they see them but rarely do, according to a new survey from Tork, an Essity brand.

At the same time, research on cleaning staff highlights significant workforce strain: 38% of cleaners surveyed have left their jobs because of lack of recognition and burnout—factors unrelated to pay that contribute to recruitment and retention challenges across the cleaning industry. Additionally, 70% of cleaners report inadequate employer support, and 80% have experienced mental health challenges because of their work.

“The gap between good intentions and actual appreciation, combined with widespread cleaner burnout, represents an urgent business challenge,” said Amy Bellcourt, vice president of communications at Essity. “When cleaning staff feel unsupported and invisible, it directly impacts facility cleanliness, the restroom user experience and ultimately, business reputation and revenue.”

Of restroom users surveyed, four in five said hygiene issues in the restroom make them feel worse about the business as a whole. In fact, many actively avoid a venue or business because of hygiene or privacy issues. Poor restroom experiences may also lead customers to leave negative reviews, avoid purchases or, for employees, spend less time at work and work from home more often.

To address these workforce challenges, Tork partnered with ISSA, The Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, to offer Frontline Excellence: Delivering Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Spaces via the Inclusive Hygiene Framework—a new online training course, available in English and Spanish, designed specifically for front-line cleaning professionals in North America. As a limited-time thank you, Tork is covering the cost of training for nonmembers.

The 30-minute, self-paced course equips cleaning professionals with practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to deliver hygiene services that go beyond appearance, helping create environments that are clean, safe, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. By investing in professional development and training, facility managers can help cleaners build new skills while strengthening their connection to the purpose and value of their work —driving engagement, improving retention and supporting more consistent, high-quality hygiene outcomes.

“Thank Your Cleaner Day is an opportunity for us to demonstrate that commitment in a meaningful way,” Bellcourt continued. “By launching this comprehensive training in partnership with ISSA, we’re equipping frontline teams with the tools and knowledge to succeed, removing barriers they face every day and ultimately improving both their experience and the experience of facility users. That’s inclusive hygiene in action.”

The course is available through the ISSA Academy and is free for both ISSA members and nonmembers. Nonmembers can register for free with the promotional code NMFREE (to access, first create a free account; after checkout, training will appear in your MYISSA account under “My Activity”). For more information or to enroll, visit the ISSA Academy.