Illinois (Illinois OSHA, Public Sector)
Illinois has a public-sector-only state plan. Illinois OSHA, part of the Illinois Department of Labor, protects state and local government workers. Federal OSHA covers private employers. Illinois also has some of the country’s strongest protections for temp and day laborers.
- Construction
- General Industry
- Public employees
- Illinois
At a glance
| Private employers | Federal OSHA, Region 5 (Chicago), with area offices in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Public employees | Illinois OSHA, Illinois Department of Labor: state agencies, cities, counties, townships, schools, park districts and other public bodies |
| Rules | Illinois OSHA adopts federal standards for public employers |
| Free employer help | Illinois OSHA’s On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program for small private businesses |
| Workers’ comp | Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission |
Temp and day labor workers
The Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act, strengthened in 2023, gives temp workers safety rights that go beyond federal law:
- The staffing agency must provide general safety training for the industry, and the host company must provide site-specific training, before work starts.
- Workers must be told about the hazards of the job and the safety equipment needed.
- Workers can refuse to be placed at a site where there’s a strike or lockout.
- In many cases, temp workers placed with the same company for more than 90 days must get pay and benefits equal to direct employees doing the same work.
See Temp & Staffing Workers and Illinois Worker Rights.
Workers’ comp in Illinois
- Tell your employer about the injury within 45 days.
- You generally have 3 years from the injury, or 2 years from the last payment of benefits, to file a claim with the Commission.
- You can choose your own doctors, with some limits, unless your employer uses an approved preferred provider program.
See Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim.
Report, complain and get help
- Private employers: severe injuries and safety complaints go to federal OSHA (1-800-321-OSHA). Retaliation complaints to OSHA within 30 days.
- Public employees: safety complaints and injury reports go to Illinois OSHA, which can inspect and cite public employers. Illinois law also protects public workers from retaliation; file right away.
- Wages and temp worker violations: Illinois Department of Labor.
Chicago: Chicago has its own minimum wage, paid leave rules and building code requirements. Check city requirements as well as state and federal rules for Chicago jobs.
Your first-week checklist in Illinois
- Temp workers: ask what site-specific safety training you’ll get before you start
- Report any injury to your employer in writing, within 45 days
- Private-sector workers: safety complaints go to federal OSHA
- Public employees: safety complaints go to Illinois OSHA
- On Chicago jobs, check the city’s own wage and paid leave rules
Standards & references
Last updated: