Personal Protective Equipment: This is the Future of the Workplace.

The Future of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Ideally, when people say “the future is NOW,” each of us interprets that phrase differently. But what if the NOW was yesterday (the start of the Industrial Revolution), today (digitalization), and tomorrow (artificial intelligence and bionic “Internet of Things” bodies)?

The beginning of the Industrial Revolution is linked to the invention of steam engines and large manufacturing machines. While these machines increased production tenfold, they forced workers to leave their homes and travel to remote locations where these machines were located, because the noise and smoke generated made the work environment hazardous. This marked the beginning of risks in extreme workplaces, raising questions about whether a family member would return home safely.

The next stage, digitalization, has enabled better implementation of health and safety measures in today’s workplaces. While some hazardous machines are still in use, safety levels in Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) departments have improved significantly. Compared to the past, there has been tremendous progress in workplace safety. Advanced technologies, regulations, and safety measures have helped make production safer and healthier. However, due to technological obsolescence, much work remains to further improve workplace safety and health.

By the end of 2026, the personal protective equipment (PPE) market is projected to reach USD 81,790 million, up from USD 48,130 million in 2019, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4%. While some may not yet view the 2026 forecast as the “future” of the PPE market, the gradual transition to the next generation—with artificial intelligence and bionic “Internet of Things” bodies—will accelerate this growth. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers did not use PPE as effectively as they did during the pandemic.

Experience shows that workers naturally used PPE according to the demands of their jobs and daily risks, but they did not encourage friends or family to use protective gear. After global pandemic news spread, PPE became a worldwide focus, with masks adhering to the skin causing significant discomfort. In my opinion, the future of PPE truly began immediately after the global pandemic we experienced in recent years.

The rapid programming of artificial intelligence and tests of these remarkable “internet bodies” show that the future of PPE is not yesterday, it is not today, but it will definitely be tomorrow. At the beginning of this era, robots and software are already being programmed to operate in high-PPE-use sectors like healthcare—handling patient complaints and determining effective solutions. In construction companies, robots are now perfectly executing pre-designed plans.

Conclusion: The future of PPE is not just what we see today—it is what will happen in the years to come.