2025 brought some of the fastest changes the construction safety industry has seen in years—from evolving standards to new technologies reshaping how crews work. As companies adapt, many are looking ahead to understand what 2026 may bring: potential updates to ANSI guidelines, shifts in PPE expectations, and emerging job site risks driven by new work conditions.
This brief recap outlines the biggest developments from the past year and highlights what contractors, safety managers, and procurement teams should be preparing for as we enter the next phase of job site safety.
EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER FITTING HELMETS
One of the key developments that became effective in January 2025 was OSHA requiring that equipment must fit each worker properly. This helps to reinforce that compliance goes beyond meeting ANSI Z89.1 standards. Many employers are encouraged to:
Helmets can shift or detach during impact, so it is vital that your PPE gear fits you and protects you when it matters most.
INCREASING PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE ON THE JOB SITE
Effective in January 2025, OSHA increased the civil penalty for non-compliance from $16,131 to
$16,550 per violation
One of the simplest ways to avoid this and reduce your risk of OSHA penalties is by choosing helmets for your team that are third-party tested. Here at Defender Safety every helmet is third-party tested and confirms that your safety gear is performing as intended and protecting lives when it matters most.
We take pride in knowing that every helmet is third-party tested and proven to perform. 
SPOTLIGHTING TYPE II HELMETS FOR THE JOB SITE
Although OSHA has not issued this to be a requirement, there has been a move toward Type II helmets over hard hats due to them providing both top and side impact protection. At Defender Safety, our Type II helmets also allow for an easy integration with accessories like face shields, eye protection, hearing protection, and etc.
Even though it may offer maximum protection for both top and side impact, it is still important to keep in mind that not every job may require you to have a Type II helmet (yet). It is important to understand the difference between Type I and Type II helmets to decide which helmet is best for the job site.
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT YEAR IN THE WORLD OF SAFETY
In 2026, OSHA plans to introduce new requirements for construction, manufacturing, energy, and other high-risk sectors. Stay up to date and learn what to expect in the new year.
WHY DEFENDER SAFETY IS THE LEADING CHOICE IN SAFETY IN 2026
If you haven't upgraded your crew to Defender Safety helmets yet, now is the time. Designed for maximum protection some key features of our helmets are:
