Workplace safety rules and regulations are so important. But they’re also difficult to understand. To help you get clarity on OSHA Illinois standards, we’re diving into OSHA jurisdiction, state-plans, training requirements—and why training is so important for keeping you, and those around you, safe.
Occupational Safety and Health Jurisdiction in Illinois
Illinois is one of 26 states (and 2 U.S. territories) to have an official state plan. It covers all state and local government workers under Illinois jurisdiction.
The state plan adopts all federal standards for general industry (29 CFR 1910), construction (29 CFR 1926), and shipyards (29 CFR 1915). Enforcement—including inspections, notifications, citations, penalties, and appeals—are handled by the Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Illinois OSHA), under the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL).
The state plan also includes its own unique recordkeeping rule that differs from the federal system. It's applicable to state and local government employers only.
Since Illinois' state plan doesn't cover the private sector, that's still under federal OSHA's jurisdiction. Federal government workers also remain under federal OSHA, including the U.S. Postal Service and any civilian employees that work on military bases.
OSHA Illinois Training Requirements
Illinois' state plan means there are two separate enforcement agencies for workers in the state, as well as two sets of recordkeeping rules for employers. But since Illinois adopted §1910, 1915, and 1926 standards identically, the rules for training are the same for everyone.
OSHA requires training on specific safety standards that apply to your job functions. Its Outreach courses (sometimes referred to as "DOL cards") are safety orientations that cover common requirements for your industry. Even though OSHA doesn't require OSHA Outreach training, some employers might. In that case, you’ll either need an OSHA 10-Hour course for entry-level workers or an OSHA 30-Hour course for supervisors.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OSHA 10-HOUR AND 30-HOUR COURSES
We offer OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry to meet your OSHA training needs.
Not sure where to start? Read our guide.
Benefits of OSHA Training for Workers in Illinois
OSHA’s primary goal of their required safety training is to increase employee awareness and understanding of jobsite hazards so they’re better prepared to avoid them. However, employers can also benefit from investing in OSHA training and can avoid OSHA noncompliance penalties, lower workers’ compensation costs, and increase workplace productivity.
It’s easy for us to say that OSHA training will keep workers safe, but we’re not making it up! Take a look at the statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other Illinois agencies. These statistics show how prevalent workplace injuries are and demonstrate the importance of safety training in preventing fatalities, accidents, and fines.

Fatal Occupational Injuries in Illinois
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 163 fatal occupational injuries in Illinois in 2017, while nationally there were 5,147 fatal occupational injuries.
Of the 163 fatalities:
- 61 were the result of transportation incidents
- 27 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
- 23 were the result of contact with objects and equipment
- 20 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
- 22 were the result of exposure to harmful substances or environments
- 7 were the result of fires and explosions
The industry with the highest number of fatal work injuries was trade, transportation, and utilities while the industry with the second highest number of fatal work injuries was construction.
Construction-Related Fatal Occupational Injuries
In 2017, there were 26 fatal occupational injuries within the private construction industry. Specifically, they occurred in the following sectors:
- 3 in construction of residential buildings
- 2 in heavy and civil engineering construction
- 11 foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors, including
- 5 roofing contractors
- 1 masonry contractor
- 1 structural steel and precast concrete contractor
- 7 building equipment contractors, including
- 3 electrical contractors
- 3 plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors
- 3 other specialty trade contractors
The 26 fatalities in construction were distributed across the following occupations:
- 1 construction manager
- 3 first-line supervisors of construction and extraction workers
- 6 construction laborers
- 5 roofers
- 2 electricians
- 1 brick/blockmason
- 1 structural iron and steel worker
- 15 other construction trades workers
2019 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in Illinois
No doubt that you now understand that workers in Illinois, especially those in construction, are prone to injuries and accidents. Unfortunately, workers aren’t the only ones affected by a lack of OSHA training. Employers can also use OSHA training to reduce their risk of enforcement penalties from an OSHA inspection.
Federal OSHA lists the top enforcement cases by state on its website. To give you an idea of the hefty fines you risk for violations, here are the top cases for 2019.
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State | Inspection Number | Employer | City | Issuance Date | Initial Penalty |
IL | 1371076.015 | W.R. Meadows, Inc. | HAMPSHIRE | 06/24/2019 | $52,714.00 |
IL | 1380196.015 | Metal-Matic, Inc. | BEDFORD PARK | 05/10/2019 | $83,349.00 |
IL | 1370230.015 | Elite Labor Services, Ltd. | KANKAKEE | 04/30/2019 | $58,344.00 |
IL | 1360137.015 | Primrose Candy Co. | CHICAGO | 04/11/2019 | $53,040.00 |
IL | 1367898.015 | HUDAPACK METAL TREATING OF ILLINOIS, INC. | GLENDALE HEIGHTS | 06/18/2019 | $181,662.00 |
IL | 1384915.015 | Fairrington, LLC | BOLINGBROOK | 06/20/2019 | $54,934.00 |
IL | 1385973.015 | Ataraxia LLC | ALBION | 07/11/2019 | $56,261.00 |
IL | 1404168.015 | Chicago American Manufacturing, LLC | CHICAGO | 07/11/2019 | $48,758.00 |
IL | 1395045.015 | Micaela Construction, Inc. | VERNON HILLS | 07/08/2019 | $48,758.00 |
IL | 1386249.015 | John Neri Construction Company, Inc. | PARK RIDGE | 07/31/2019 | $43,759.00 |
IL | 1387243.015 | Graham Welding, Inc. | DECATUR | 09/05/2019 | $40,628.00 |
IL | 1386770.015 | Polo Masonry Builders, Inc. | CHICAGO | 09/05/2019 | $252,136.00 |
IL | 1359217.015 | National Roofing Corporation | PALATINE | 03/27/2019 | $41,106.00 |
IL | 1369616.015 | Kustom Seating Unlimited, Inc. | BELLWOOD | 03/27/2019 | $46,034.00 |
IL | 1367108.015 | Estad Stamping & Mfg. Co. | DANVILLE | 03/21/2019 | $76,529.00 |
IL | 1347901.015 | Rockbranch Ironworks, Inc. | CENTRALIA | 03/19/2019 | $48,874.00 |
IL | 1358480.015 | ML Farm Systems, Inc. | BLACKSTONE | 03/19/2019 | $64,032.00 |
IL | 1338722.015 | Snak-King Corp. | FREEPORT | 02/13/2019 | $95,283.00 |
IL | 1351402.015 | SET Enterprises, Inc. | SAUK VILLAGE | 02/05/2019 | $69,258.00 |
IL | 1350915.015 | Paragon Roofing Services Corporation dba Etruscan Guttering & Roofing | WINNETKA | 01/17/2019 | $54,471.00 |
IL | 1329399.015 | Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation | STEELEVILLE | 01/04/2019 | $46,194.00 |
IL | 1415335.015 | DCG Roofing Solutions, Inc. | MOUNT PROSPECT | 08/06/2019 | $61,261.00 |
IL | 1421439.015 | Advanced Roofing & Woodworking, Inc. | BATAVIA | 09/30/2019 | $41,675.00 |
IL | 1428717.015 | Advanced Roofing Team Construction, Inc. | MOUNT PROSPECT | 09/30/2019 | $40,840.00 |
Federal and State OSHA Offices in Illinois
Since Illinois employers and workers are divided up into federal and state jurisdiction, there are separate local area offices for state and federal OSHA.
You need to contact a federal office if you're in the private sector, a federal agency, a military facility, a workplace with Indian sovereignty, the U.S. Postal Service, or a maritime employer (e.g. shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring).
There are five local area offices for federal OSHA in Illinois:
- Chicago North (Des Plaines)
- Chicago South (Tinley Park)
- Fairview
- Naperville
- Peoria
You need to contact an Illinois state plan office if you're in the public sector, instead. That includes all state and local government employers and workers. There are three state plan offices in Illinois:
- Chicago
- Marion
- Springfield
You can find the most up-to-date contact information for either type of Illinois OSHA office on OSHA's website.
Additional Illinois Resources for Safety Information
In addition to the information we have provided, you can visit Illinois state agency websites for more information on safety resources.
Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Illinois OSHA): Housed within the Department of Labor, Illinois OSHA handles workplace inspections and ensures that employers are meeting their obligations for creating safe work environments.
Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL): The IDOL enforces state laws, regarding wages, working conditions, and amusement rides, to protect the public.
Enroll Now in OSHA Illinois Training Courses
While you now understand the critical importance of OSHA Illinois training in protecting the safety and well-being of workers, supervisors, and employers, the next step you have to complete is choosing your OSHA training course.
Lucky for you, you don’t have to look too far! We have over 20 years of experience as an OSHA-authorized training provider, and we offer OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry to satisfy your OSHA training needs.
Simply select the online training course that best fits your needs and complete it at your own pace. Sign up for training today!