See which agency covers your Illinois workplace: federal OSHA for private employers, Illinois OSHA for public ones, plus 2026 penalties for foreign-owned firms.
Last reviewed October 27, 2026 · 3 min read · General information, not legal advice
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Illinois OSHA is the state workplace-safety agency inside the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), but it enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act only against public employers, under 820 ILCS 219. Private businesses in Illinois answer to federal OSHA. This page is for owners of Illinois businesses with Canada or India ties who want to know which safety law applies.
Slide show: Illinois OSHA in seven slides
What it is
Two safety systems operate in Illinois, split by who the employer is.
Who it affects
Federal OSHA covers private employers, small ones included. Public employers answer to Illinois OSHA.
The rule
Both laws require a workplace free from recognized hazards. The Illinois Act applies to public employers only.
The number
The 2026 federal maximums, with no 2026 inflation increase, are $16,550 per violation and $165,514 for willful or repeat violations.
The deadline
A citation becomes final unless a public employer contests it in writing within 15 working days.
The penalty
Illinois public employers: serious violations cost up to $1,000, and repeated or intentional ones up to $10,000.
The tip
Small private businesses can use IDOL's free, confidential On-Site Consultation. A refusal to fix serious hazards can be referred to enforcement.
Who does Illinois OSHA cover?
Workplace
Safety agency and law
Private-sector employers in Illinois
Federal OSHA, under the OSH Act of 1970
State, counties, townships, cities, villages, school districts, other public bodies, public universities and colleges
Illinois OSHA (IDOL), 820 ILCS 219
Postal Service, federal agencies, maritime, military and tribal-sovereignty workplaces, as IL OSHA's site lists them
Federal OSHA
A condition another federal agency already regulates
The Illinois Act does not apply
This page sorts employers by agency only. Federal OSHA's own exclusions are on the federal OSHA page.
What it means for a foreign-owned or cross-border business
Situation
What the law says
What to check
Illinois LLC or corporation owned from Canada or India
IDOL's consultation program is free and confidential, for small and medium-sized businesses
Whether you qualify
Safety fines and records
Money paid to a government as a penalty for breaking the law is generally not deductible (IRC 162(f)), with exceptions; under federal OSHA's rule, injury records are kept 5 years