By Nate Kogler, ISEA Board Chair
As 2024 draws to a close, I’m honored to reflect on a truly transformative year for the International Safety Equipment Association. At this year’s ISEA Annual Meeting (Dec 9-11), I delivered a State of the Association keynote with the theme of Growth, which captures not just our membership achievements but also the expanding impact and influence of ISEA across industries and communities.
From welcoming new members to advancing standards, building partnerships, and enhancing advocacy efforts, our growth is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in our mission to protect workers worldwide.
Membership Growth
This year, we welcomed 17 new members, whose fresh perspectives and energy are already enhancing the work we do. It’s thrilling to see our association growing, not only in size but also in diversity of expertise.
Expanding Product Groups
In 2024, we launched two new product groups—First Aid and Safety Cutting Knives—allowing us to address critical emerging challenges. These expansions position us to tackle pressing issues like opioid overdose prevention and tool safety, reaffirming our commitment to relevance and innovation.
Standards That Set Benchmarks
Standards remain the backbone of ISEA’s work. In 2024, we released the updated ANSI/ISEA 121-2023 standard for Dropped Objects Prevention and the revised ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 Hand Protection classification standard, both of which have been met with enthusiasm across industries. Looking ahead, we are preparing groundbreaking updates, including a new Bump Cap (ISEA 100) standard and revisions to our Head Protection (ISEA Z98.1) and Protective Apparel standards (ISEA 101 and ISEA 201).
Advocacy Wins
Our collective voice has led to significant advocacy victories:
- OSHA SHIB Update: We successfully influenced a critical revision to OSHA’s Safety and Health Information Bulletin on head protection, ensuring more accurate and actionable guidance for workers.
- NIOSH Funding Advocacy: Through direct engagement with lawmakers, we’ve garnered bipartisan support for increased funding for NIOSH, demonstrating the importance of PPE in protecting workers.
- White House Roundtable: ISEA’s advocacy for including opioid reversal medication in first aid kits reached new heights when we participated in a White House roundtable, cementing our leadership in life-saving workplace safety solutions.
Enhancing Member Experience
This year, we launched initiatives to elevate our member experience:
- Online Community Platform: A collaborative hub for product groups and committees to streamline their work.
- Industry Intelligence Portal: A repository of actionable data and forecasts to help members stay ahead.
- Special Projects Fund: A resource enabling product groups to pursue innovative research and initiatives.
Empowering Through Education
The QSSP training program continues to evolve, with plans for hybrid courses and new micro-learning modules like QSSP Essentials. These bite-size, on-demand courses will empower safety sales professionals to build expertise in specific areas efficiently. Look for these early next year.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this year of incredible growth, I’m excited about what lies ahead for ISEA. Together, we are not just growing in size but also in influence, impact, and the ability to make workplaces safer worldwide.
Thank you to our members, partners, and stakeholders for your unwavering support. I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you in 2025 and beyond.
