OSHA 2026: How to Get Ahead of It Now

In safety-critical environments, the best time to act is before regulation becomes urgent. With recent moves by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the International Safety Equipment Association/American National Standards Institute (ISEA/ANSI) signaling change, 2026 represents a strategic moment for procurement, safety, and maintenance professionals to review—and strengthen—their personal protective equipment (PPE) programs.

Staying ahead is about more than avoiding citations. It’s about ensuring your workers have gear that fits, performs, and is properly documented. Organizations that treat the balance of 2025 as the preparation year will be best positioned when the next wave of standards and enforcement comes.

What’s Happening Now — and Why It Matters for 2026

1. Updated Hand Protection Standard

In November 2024, ISEA announced the new ANSI/ISEA 105‑2024 hand-protection standard, which introduces a universal pentagon pictogram for cut, puncture, and abrasion resistance.  Although the test methods and protection thresholds didn’t radically change, the labeling and classification changes are significant for buyers and specifiers. 

Why this matters for 2026: If your current PPE inventory uses the older labeling or classification, you’ll need to verify whether replacements or upgrades will be required — and suppliers will increasingly provide product documentation aligned to the 2024 standard.

2. Fit matters now — and is likely to matter more later

OSHA finalized a revision that explicitly requires PPE in the construction industry (29 CFR 1926.95) to “properly fit each affected employee,” effective January 13, 2025. While the rule is for construction today, the underlying principle — appropriate sizing, fit, and supplier documentation — is gaining traction across industries.
Why this matters for 2026: As this fit requirement becomes standard in construction, similar expectations are likely to be enforced or recommended in other sectors. Proactively reviewing your PPE fit-program now will reduce risk of being behind when the compliance bar moves.

3. Traceability, documentation and procurement excellence

Though no specific nationwide 2026 regulation has yet been published, the trend is clear: suppliers and distributors will be asked for more detailed conformity, certification and labeling. For example, the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard specifically calls out conformity assessment (via ANSI/ISEA 125-2021) for hand protection. ISEA+1
Why this matters for 2026: Procurement teams need to shift from “Are the gloves safe?” to “Can I get the documentation, test-data, and traceability if asked?” This mindset leads to better supplier negotiations, lower risk, and cost-effective long-term purchases.

What Employers Should Do Right Now

Audit your current PPE inventory.
Take stock of what you currently have in use (gloves, eyewear, respirators, head/face protection). Note these details for each item: manufacturer, date purchased, standard to which it’s certified, fit (size range/availability), and labeling (especially for gloves under ANSI/ISEA 105-2024). If any items use outdated labeling or lack supplier documentation, flag them for replacement or further review.

Verify supplier documentation and traceability.
Ask your primary PPE suppliers:

• Can they provide documentation of conformity to the relevant standards (e.g., ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 for gloves)?

• Can they provide certificates of testing and origin?

• Are products labeled according to the new “pentagon” pictogram system?
  If the answer is no or unclear, it’s a good time to engage in supplier review and potentially switch to vendors who offer more transparency.

Upgrade your procurement and tracking processes.
Build or update your digital records (such as in your HubSpot CRM or another system) to include:

• Standard/labeling version used,

• Purchase date,

• Fit/size availability,

• Expiration or replacement schedule,

• Supplier and test documentation links.
  This not only aids current compliance but also insulates your team against future changes.

Train your safety and procurement teams.
Before 2026 arrives—and while you still have the runway—conduct a session or toolbox talk on what’s changing: the new labeling for hand protection, PPE fit requirements, and why documentation matters. Educated teams reduce risk and sustain culture change.

The Smart Procurement Mindset for 2026

• Buy from verified manufacturers and distributors: Direct sourcing reduces intermediaries and helps ensure proper documentation and standard compliance.

• Prioritize life-cycle value over lowest unit cost: An inexpensive glove might meet requirements today but may not last long or offer needed performance under the new standard.

• Centralize tracking and documentation now: With new standards and requirements likely, when audit time comes you’ll already have records rather than scrambling.

• Start now. Don’t wait for regulation. Change rarely happens overnight. Treat 2025 as the prep year, so your organization enters 2026 aligned, documented, and ahead.

Conclusion

Regulatory change is often incremental, but the signals are clear: labeling and classification (ANSI/ISEA 105-2024), fit and sizing (OSHA’s 2025 rule), and supplier documentation are all gaining prominence. For procurement, maintenance and safety teams at NorthSky Supply and your clients, that means now is the time to shift from “we’ll deal with it when the rule kicks in” to “we’re already ready.” Start the audit, engage the suppliers, train the teams — and when 2026 arrives, you’ll be leading rather than chasing.