PPE association issues statement on Virginia Tech helmet rating system

October 8, 2025

Arlington, VA — Third-party ratings for safety equipment shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement for compliance or regulatory standards, the International Safety Equipment Association cautions in a Sept 29 statement.

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab on Sept. 22 published its inaugural assessment of 17 construction safety helmets for their reduction in “linear and rotational head acceleration” during a range of falls considered to be “severe but survivable.”

ISEA President and CEO Cam Mackey says: “We appreciate the work Virginia Tech is doing to advance understanding of head protection. Their new construction helmet ratings provide some interesting data about certain types of fall impacts. But OSHA compliance with ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 is where employers and workers must start. Ratings like Virginia Tech’s can be helpful as additional information, but they don’t replace the standard or the rigorous testing process behind it.”

OSHA standards require head protection to comply with the Z89.1 standard, which is expected to be updated early next year.

ISEA advises employers to first conduct a job hazard analysis to determine the right type of head protection for the task.

“As safety equipment professionals, our top priority is ensuring workers are protected with the right equipment for the hazards they face,” Stacey Simmons, chair of ISEA’s Head Protection Product Group and strategic account manager at Bullard, said in the statement. “ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 exists to provide that assurance. It’s critical that employers and workers understand the differences between helmet types and select products that comply with OSHA regulations and are suited to the jobsite’s specific risks.”