Arlington, Va. – September 17, 2026 -- The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) has released ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, the updated American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, approved by the American National Standards Institute.
Head injuries caused nearly 700 worker fatalities in the last year, ISEA says
"This isn't a routine update — it's the roadmap for an industry transformation," said Cam Mackey, President & CEO of ISEA. He noted major employers are now mandating enhanced protection, prompting the need for a new technical framework. ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 is referenced in OSHA regulations and remains the primary benchmark for industrial head protection in the United States.
Standard introduces new "+" designation for enhanced performance
The 2026 revision does not replace existing requirements or make current compliant head protection obsolete, preserving the familiar Type I, Type II, and electrical Class designations. It adds optional testing criteria under a new "+" marking: Type I+ requires chin strap performance, enhanced retention, and multi-directional impact protection, while Type II+ requires chin strap performance and enhanced retention alongside standard Type II impact protection.
New tests cover chin strap retention, helmet stability, and reverse-wear checks
The enhanced criteria tied to the "+" marking include chin strap retention to keep protection secured during impact or falls, helmet retention to maintain position during slips or trips, and multi-point impact testing covering front, rear, and side protection for Type I+. The standard also adds guidance for reverse wearing, ensuring "+" rated head protection stays securely on the head when worn backward.
"High Visibility" marking renamed to "Enhanced Visibility" with no performance change
The revision maintains HT (high temperature) and LT (low temperature) environmental markings but updates "High Visibility (HV)" to "Enhanced Visibility (EV)," clarifying that head protection falls outside the scope of the ANSI/ISEA 107 high-visibility apparel standard. ISEA confirmed there is no change to actual visibility performance.
Industry group group frames update as standardizing existing market features
Tim Gallant, Chair of the ISEA Head Protection Product Group and Vice President of Product at Ergodyne, said the update helps manufacturers, safety teams, and workers "speak the same language" while keeping the trusted foundation of the standard intact. Stacey Simmons, Vice Chair of the ISEA Head Protection Product Group and Strategic Account Executive at Bullard, said the revision defines consistent test methods for features many employers are already evaluating.
ISEA stresses hazard-based selection over blanket adoption of enhanced options
ISEA emphasized that head protection should be selected based on actual jobsite hazards, noting that while Type I+ and Type II+ options provide additional protection, not every job requires the enhanced approach. ISEA will host a free webinar on the standard changes on Wednesday, September 30 at 1:00 pm ET.