Public Act 094-0477
 
SB1267 Enrolled LRB094 04933 WGH 34962 b

    AN ACT concerning employment.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Safety Inspection and Education Act is
amended by changing Section 0.2, changing and resectioning
Section 2, and adding Sections 2.2, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, and 2.9 as
follows:
 
    (820 ILCS 220/.02)  (from Ch. 48, par. 59.02)
    Sec. .02. Definitions. As used in this Act:
    "Department" means the Department of Labor.
    "Director" means the Director of Labor.
    "Division" means the Division of Safety Inspection and
Education of the Department of Labor.
(Source: P.A. 87-245.)
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2)  (from 820 ILCS 220/2, in part)
    Sec. 2. Powers and duties; inspections.
    (a) The Director of Labor shall enforce the occupational
safety and health standards and rules promulgated under the
Health and Safety Act and any occupational health and safety
laws relating to inspection of places of employment, and shall
visit and inspect, as often as practicable, the places of
employment covered by this Act.
    (b) The Director of Labor or his or her authorized
representatives upon presenting appropriate credentials to the
owner, operator or agent in charge is authorized to have the
right of entry and inspections of all places of all employment
in the State as follows:
        (1) 1. To enter without delay and at reasonable times
    any factory, plant, establishment, construction site, or
    other area, workplace or environment where work is
    performed by an employee of a public an employer in order
    to enforce such occupational safety and health standards.
        (2) If the public employer refuses entry upon being
    presented proper credentials or allows entry but then
    refuses to permit or hinders the inspection in some way,
    the inspector shall leave the premises and immediately
    report the refusal to authorized management. Authorized
    management shall notify the Director of Labor to initiate
    the compulsory legal process or obtain a warrant for entry,
    or both.
        (3) 2. To inspect and investigate during regular
    working hours and at other reasonable times, and within
    reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, any such
    place of employment and all pertinent conditions,
    structures, machines, apparatus, devices, equipment, and
    materials therein, and to question privately any such
    employer, owner, operator, agent or employee.
        (4) 3. The owner, operator, manager or lessees of any
    place affected by the provisions of this Act and his or her
    agent, superintendent, subordinate or employee, and any
    employer affected by such provisions shall when requested
    by the Division of Safety Inspection and Education, or any
    duly authorized agent thereof, furnish any information in
    his or her possession or under his control which the
    Department of Labor is authorized to require, and shall
    answer truthfully all questions required to be put to him,
    and shall cooperate in the making of a proper inspection.
        (5) A person who gives advance notice of an inspection
    to be conducted under the authority of this Act without
    authority from the Director of Labor, or his or her
    authorized representative, commits a Class B misdemeanor.
        (6) 4. Subject to regulations issued by the Director of
    Labor, a representative of the employer and a
    representative authorized by his or her employees shall be
    given an opportunity to accompany the Director of Labor or
    his or her authorized representative during the physical
    inspection of any workplace under this Section for the
    purpose of aiding such inspection. Where there is no
    authorized employee representative the Director of Labor
    or his or her authorized agent shall consult with a
    reasonable number of employees concerning matters of
    health and safety in the workplace.
        (7)(A) Whenever and as soon as an inspector concludes
    that an imminent danger exists in any place of employment,
    the inspector shall inform the affected employees or their
    authorized representatives and employers of the danger and
    that the inspector is recommending to the Director of Labor
    that relief be sought.
        (B) Whenever the Director is of the opinion that
    imminent danger exists in the working conditions of any
    public employee in this State, which condition may
    reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical
    harm, the Director may file a complaint in the circuit
    court for appropriate relief against an employer and
    employee, including an order directing the employer or
    employee to cease and desist from the practice creating the
    imminent danger and to obtain immediate abatement of the
    hazard.
        (C) If the Director of Labor arbitrarily or
    capriciously fails to seek relief under this Section, any
    employee who may be injured by reason of such failure, or
    the representative of the employee, may bring an action
    against the Director of Labor in the circuit court for the
    circuit in which the imminent danger is alleged to exist or
    the employer has his or her principal office, for relief by
    mandamus to compel the Director of Labor to seek such an
    order and for such further relief as may be appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 86-820; 87-245.)
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.1 new)  (from 820 ILCS 220/2, in part)
    Sec. 2.1. Complaint inspection procedures.
    (a) 5. Any employees or representatives of employees who
believe that a violation of a safety or health standard exists
or that an imminent danger exists, may request an inspection by
submitting a written complaint to the Director of Labor or his
or her authorized representative setting forth with reasonable
particularity the grounds for the complaint, and signed by the
employees or representative of employees.
    (b) If the Director of Labor or the Director's authorized
representative determines there are no reasonable grounds to
believe that a violation or danger exists, he or she shall
notify the employees or representatives of the employees in
writing of such determination.
    (c) If, upon receipt of such complaint, the Director of
Labor or his or her authorized representative determines there
are reasonable grounds to believe that such violation or danger
exists, he or she shall make a special inspection of the
workplace in accordance with the provisions of this Act as soon
as practicable, to determine if such violation or danger
exists.
    (d) A copy of the complaint shall be provided the employer
or his or her agent by the Director of Labor or his or her
authorized representative at the time of inspection, except
that, upon the request of the person making such complaint, his
name and the name of individual employees referred to therein,
shall not appear in such copy or on any record published,
released, or made available by the Director of Labor or his or
her authorized representative.
    (e) Nonformal complaints shall be handled by an authorized
representative of the Director of Labor and, based upon the
severity and legitimacy of the complaint, the authorized
representative of the Director of Labor shall either schedule a
complaint inspection or issue a letter to the public employer
stating the concern. If upon receipt of such complaint, the
Director of Labor or his or her authorized representative
determines there are reasonable grounds to believe that such
violation or danger exists, he or she shall make a special
inspection of the workplace in accordance with the provisions
of this Act as soon as practicable, to determine if such
violation or danger exists. If the Director of Labor or his or
her authorized representative determines there are no
reasonable grounds to believe that a violation or danger
exists, he or she shall notify the employees or representatives
of the employees in writing of such determination.
    (c) Any person who shall give advance notice of any
inspection to be conducted under the authority of this Act
without authority from the Director of Labor, or his or her
authorized representative, upon conviction, shall be guilty of
a Class B misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 86-820; 87-245.)
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.2 new)
    Sec. 2.2. Discrimination prohibited.
    (a) A person may not discharge or in any way discriminate
against any employee because the employee has filed a complaint
or instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under
or related to this Act or the Health and Safety Act or has
testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding or
because of the exercise by the employee on behalf of himself or
herself or others of any right afforded by this Act or the
Health and Safety Act.
    (b) Any employee who believes that he or she has been
discharged or otherwise discriminated against by any person in
violation of this Section may, within 30 calendar days after
the violation occurs, file a complaint with the Director of
Labor alleging the discrimination. Upon request, the Director
of Labor shall withhold the name of the complainant from the
employer. Upon receipt of the complaint, the Director of Labor
shall cause such investigation to be made as the Director deems
appropriate. If, after the investigation, the Director of Labor
determines that the provisions of this Section have been
violated, the Director shall, within 120 days after receipt of
the complaint, bring an action in the circuit court for
appropriate relief, including rehiring or reinstatement of the
employee to his or her former position with back pay, after
taking into account any interim earnings of the employee.
    (c) Within 90 days of the receipt of a complaint filed
under this Section, the Director of Labor shall notify the
complainant of the Director's determination under subsection
(b) of this Section.
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.3 new)  (from 820 ILCS 220/2, in part)
    Sec. 2.3. Methods of compelling compliance.
    (a) Citations. (d) 1.
        (1) If, upon inspection or investigation, the Director
    of Labor or his or her authorized representative believes
    that an employer has violated a requirement of Section 3 of
    the Health and Safety Act, or a standard, rule, regulation
    or order promulgated pursuant to this Act or the Health and
    Safety Act, he or she shall with reasonable promptness
    issue a citation to the employer. Each citation shall be in
    writing; describe with particularity the nature of the
    violation and include a reference to the provision of the
    Act, standard, rule, regulation, or order alleged to have
    been violated; and fix a reasonable time for the abatement
    of the violation.
        (2) The Director of Labor may prescribe procedures for
    the issuance of a notice of de minimis violations which
    have no direct or immediate relationship to safety or
    health.
        (3) Each citation issued under this Section, or a copy
    or copies thereof, shall be prominently posted as
    prescribed in regulations issued by the Director of Labor
    at or near the place at which the violation occurred.
        (4) 2. Citations shall be served on the employer,
    owner, operator, manager, or agent by delivering an exact
    copy to the person upon whom the service is to be had, or
    by leaving a copy at his or her usual place of business or
    abode, or by sending a copy thereof by registered mail to
    his place of business.
        3. Each citation issued under this Section, or a copy
    or copies thereof, shall be prominently posted as
    prescribed in regulations issued by the Director of Labor
    at or near the place the violation occurred.
        (5) 4. No citation may be issued under this Section
    after the expiration of 6 months following the occurrence
    of any violation.
        (6) 5. If, after an inspection, the Director of Labor
    issues a citation, he or she shall within 5 days after the
    issuance of the citation, notify the employer by certified
    mail of the penalty, if any, proposed to be assessed for
    the violation set forth in the citation.
        (7) 6. If the Director of Labor has reason to believe
    that an employer has failed to correct a violation for
    which a citation has been issued within the period
    permitted for its correction, the Director of Labor shall
    notify the employer by certified mail of such failure and
    of the monetary penalty proposed to be assessed by reason
    of such failure.
        (8) The public entity may submit in writing data
    relating to the abatement of a hazard to be considered by
    an authorized representative of the Director of Labor. The
    authorized representative of the Director of Labor shall
    notify the interested parties if such data will be used to
    modify an abatement order.
    (b) Proposed violations.
        (1) Civil penalties. 7. Civil penalties under
    subparagraphs (A) through (E) paragraphs A., B., C. and D.
    may be assessed by the Director of Labor as part of the
    citation procedure as follows:
            (A) Any public employer who repeatedly violates
        the requirements of the Health and Safety Act or any
        standard, or rule, or order pursuant to that Act and
        this Act may be assessed a civil penalty of not more
        than $10,000.
            A. Any employer who has received a citation for
        violations of any standard, or rule, or order not of a
        serious nature may be assessed a civil penalty of up to
        $1,000 for each such violation.
            (B) B. Any employer who has received a citation for
        a serious violation of the requirements of Section 3 of
        the Health and Safety Act or any standard, or rule, or
        order pursuant to that Act and this Act shall be
        assessed a civil penalty up to $1,000 for each such
        violation.
            For purposes of this Section, a serious violation
        shall be deemed to exist in a place of employment if
        there is a substantial probability that death or
        serious physical harm could result from a condition
        which exists, or from one or more practices, means,
        methods, operations, or processes which have been
        adopted or are in use in such place of employment
        unless the employer did not know and could not, with
        the exercise of reasonable diligence, have known of the
        presence of the violation as specifically determined.
            (C) Any public employer who has received a citation
        for violations of any standard, or rule, or order not
        of a serious nature may be assessed a civil penalty of
        up to $1,000 for each such violation.
            (D) C. Any public employer who fails to correct a
        violation for which a citation has been issued within
        the period permitted may be assessed a civil penalty of
        up to $1,000 for each day the violation continues.
            (E) Any public employer who intentionally violates
        the requirements of the Health and Safety Act or any
        standard, or rule, or order pursuant to this Act or
        demonstrates plain indifference to its requirements
        shall be issued a willful violation and may be assessed
        a civil penalty of not more than $10,000.
        (2) Criminal penalty. Any public employer who
    willfully violates any standard, rule, or order is guilty
    of a Class 4 felony if that violation causes death to any
    employee.
        (3) Assessment and reduction of penalties. Any penalty
    may be reduced by the Director of Labor or the Director's
    authorized representative by as much as 95% depending upon
    the public employer's "good faith", "size of business", and
    "history of previous violations". Up to 60% reduction is
    permitted for size, up to 25% reduction is permitted for
    good faith, and up to 10% reduction is permitted for
    history.
    D. Any employer who willfully or repeatedly violates the
requirements of Section 3 of the Health and Safety Act or any
standard, or rule, or order pursuant to that Act and this Act
may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $10,000.
    For purposes of this Section, a serious violation shall be
deemed to exist in a place of employment if there is a
substantial probability that death or serious physical harm
could result from a condition which exists, or from one or more
practices, means, methods, operations, or processes which have
been adopted or are in use in such place of employment unless
the employer did not know and could not, with the exercise of
reasonable diligence, have known of the presence of the
violation as specifically determined.
(Source: P.A. 86-820; 87-245.)
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.4 new)  (from 820 ILCS 220/2, in part)
    Sec. 2.4. Contested cases.
    (a) 8. An employer, firm or corporation, or an agent,
manager or superintendent or a person for himself or herself or
for other such person, firm or corporation, after receiving a
citation, a proposed assessment of penalty, or a notification
of failure to correct violation from the Director of Labor or
his or her authorized agent that he or she is in violation of
this Act, or of any occupational safety or health standard or
rule, may within 15 working days from receipt of the notice of
citation or penalty request in writing a hearing before the
Director for an appeal from the citation order, notice of
penalty, or abatement period.
    (b) Any employee or representative of an employee may
within 15 working days of the issuance of a citation file a
request in writing for a hearing before the Director for an
appeal from the citation on the ground that the period of time
fixed in the citation for the abatement of the violation is
unreasonable.
    (c)(1) The Director shall schedule a hearing within 15
calendar days after receipt of such request for an appeal from
the citation order and shall notify all interested parties of
such hearing. Such hearing shall be held no later than 45
calendar days after the date of receipt of such appeal request.
    (2) The Director shall afford a hearing to the employer or
his or her representatives, at which hearing the employer shall
state his or her objections to such citation and provide
evidence why such citation shall not stand as entered. The
Director of Labor or his or her representative shall be given
the opportunity to state his or her reasons for entering such
violation citation. Affected employees shall be provided an
opportunity to participate as parties to hearings under the
rules of procedure prescribed by the Director.
    (3) The Director, in consideration of the evidence
presented at the formal hearing, shall in accordance with his
rules enter a final decision and order no later than 15
calendar days after such hearing affirming, modifying or
vacating the Director's citation or proposed penalty, or
directing other appropriate relief.
    (4) An informal review may be conducted by an authorized
representative of the Director of Labor who is authorized to
change abatement dates, to reclassify violations (such as
willful to serious, serious to other-than-serious), and to
modify or withdraw a penalty, a citation, or a citation item if
the employer presents evidence during the informal conference
which convinces the authorized representative of the Director
of Labor that the changes are justified.
    (5) Appeal.
        (A) Any party adversely affected by a final violation
    order or determination of the Director may obtain judicial
    review by filing a complaint for review within 35 days
    after the entry of the order or other final action
    complained of, pursuant to the provisions of the
    Administrative Review Law, all amendments and
    modifications thereof, and the rules adopted pursuant
    thereto.
        (B) If no appeal is taken within 35 days the order of
    the Director shall become final.
        (C) Judicial reviews filed under this Section shall be
    heard expeditiously.
    (6) The Director of Labor has the power:
        (A) To issue subpoenas for and compel the attendance of
    witnesses and the production of pertinent books, papers,
    documents or other evidence.
        (B) To hear testimony and receive evidence and to take
    or cause to be taken, depositions of witnesses residing
    within or without this State in the manner prescribed by
    law for depositions in civil cases in the circuit court.
    Subpoenas and commissions to take testimony shall be under
    seal of the Director of Labor.
    Service of subpoenas may be made by any sheriff or any
other person. The circuit court for the county where any
hearing is pending, upon application of the Director of Labor,
may, in the court's discretion, compel the attendance of
witnesses, the production of pertinent books, papers, records,
or documents and the giving of testimony before the Director of
Labor by an attachment proceeding, as for contempt, in the same
manner as the production of evidence may be compelled before
the court.
    9. A. No person shall discharge or in any way discriminate
against any employee because such employee has filed a
complaint or instituted or caused to be instituted any
proceeding under or related to this Act or the Health and
Safety Act or has testified or is about to testify in any such
proceeding or because of the exercise by such employee on
behalf of himself or herself or others of any right afforded by
this Act or the Health and Safety Act.
    B. Any employee who believes that he or she has been
discharged or otherwise discriminated against by any person in
violation of this Section may, within 30 calendar days after
such violation occurs, file a complaint with the Director of
Labor alleging such discrimination. Upon request, the Director
of Labor shall withhold the name of the complainant from the
employer. Upon receipt of such complaint, the Director of Labor
shall cause such investigation to be made as he or she deems
appropriate. If after such investigation, the Director of Labor
determines that the provisions of this Section have been
violated, he or she shall, within 120 days after receipt of the
complaint, bring an action in the circuit court for appropriate
relief, including rehiring, or reinstatement of the employee to
his or her former position with back pay, after taking into
account any interim earnings of the employee.
    C. Within 90 days of the receipt of a complaint filed under
this Section the Director of Labor shall notify the complainant
of his or her determination under subparagraph 9B. of this
Section.
    (e) Whenever the Director is of the opinion that imminent
danger exists in the working conditions of any employee in this
State, which condition can reasonably be expected to cause
death or serious physical harm, the Director may file a
complaint in the circuit court for appropriate relief against
an employer and employee, including an order directing the
employer or employee to cease and desist from the practice
creating the imminent danger.
    Whenever and as soon as an inspector concludes that an
imminent danger exists in any place of employment, he or she
shall inform the affected employees or their authorized
representatives and employers of the danger and that he or she
is recommending to the Director of Labor that relief be sought.
    If the Director of Labor arbitrarily or capriciously fails
to seek relief under this Section, any employee who may be
injured by reason of such failure, or the representative of
such employees, may bring an action against the Director of
Labor in the circuit court for the circuit in which the
imminent danger is alleged to exist or the employer has his or
her principal office, for relief by mandamus to compel the
Director of Labor to seek such an order and for such further
relief as may be appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 86-820; 87-245.)
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.5 new)
    Sec. 2.5. Employee access to information.
    (a) The Director of Labor shall issue regulations requiring
employers to maintain accurate records of employee exposures to
potentially toxic materials or harmful physical agents which
are required to be monitored or measured under the Health and
Safety Act.
        (1) The regulations shall provide employees or their
    representatives with an opportunity to observe such
    monitoring or measuring, and to have access to the records
    thereof.
        (2) The regulations shall also make appropriate
    provisions for each employee or former employee to have
    access to such records as will indicate his or her own
    exposure to toxic materials or harmful physical agents.
        (3) Each employer shall promptly notify any employee
    who has been or is being exposed to toxic materials or
    harmful physical agents in concentrations or at levels
    which exceed those prescribed by an occupational safety and
    health standard and shall inform any employee who is being
    thus exposed of the corrective action being taken.
    (b) The Director of Labor shall also issue regulations
requiring that employers, through posting of notices or other
appropriate means, keep their employees informed of their
protections and obligations under these Acts, including the
provisions of applicable standards.
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.6 new)
    Sec. 2.6. Other prohibited actions and sanctions.
    (a) Advance notice. A person who gives advance notice of
any inspection to be conducted under the authority of this Act
without authority from the Director of Labor, or his or her
authorized representative, commits a Class B misdemeanor.
    (b) False statements. A person who knowingly makes a false
statement, representation, or certification in any
application, record, report, plan, or other document required
pursuant to this Act commits a Class 4 felony.
    (c) Violation of posting requirements. A public employer
who violates any of the required posting requirements is
subject to the following citations and proposed penalty
structure:
        (1) Job Safety & Health Poster: an other-than-serious
    citation with a proposed penalty of $1,000.
        (2) Annual Summary of Injuries/Illnesses: an
    other-than-serious citation and a proposed penalty of
    $1,000 even if there are no recordable injuries or
    illnesses.
        (3) Citation: an other-than-serious citation and a
    proposed penalty of $1,000.
    (d) All information reported to or otherwise obtained by
the Director of Labor or the Director's authorized
representative in connection with any inspection or proceeding
under this Act or the Health and Safety Act which contains or
might reveal a trade secret shall be considered confidential,
except that such information may be disclosed confidentially to
other officers or employees concerned with carrying out this
Act or the Health and Safety Act or when relevant to any
proceeding under this Act. In any such proceeding, the Director
of Labor or the court shall issue such orders as may be
appropriate, including the impoundment of files or portions of
files, to protect the confidentiality of trade secrets. A
person who violates the confidentiality of trade secrets
commits a Class B misdemeanor.
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.7 new)
    Sec. 2.7. Inspection scheduling system.
    (a) In general, the priority of accomplishment and
assignment of staff resources for inspection categories shall
be as follows:
        (1) Imminent Danger.
        (2) Fatality/Catastrophe Investigations.
        (3) Complaints/Referrals Investigation.
        (4) Programmed Inspections - general, advisory,
    monitoring and follow-up.
    (b) The priority for assignment of staff resources for
hazard categories shall be the responsibility of an authorized
representative of the Director of Labor based upon the
inspection category, the type of hazard, the perceived severity
of hazard, and the availability of resources.
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.8 new)  (from 820 ILCS 220/2, in part)
    Sec. 2.8. Voluntary compliance program.
    (f) The Department through the employees of the Division
shall foster and promote safety practices.
    (a) (g) The Department shall encourage employers and
organizations and groups of employees to institute and maintain
safety education programs for employees and promote the
observation of safety practices.
    (b) The Department shall provide and conduct qualified and
quality educational programs specifically designed to meet the
regulatory requirements and the needs of the public employer.
    (c) The educational programs and advisory inspections
shall be scheduled secondary to the unprogrammed inspections by
priority.
    (d) Regular public information programs shall be conducted
to inform the public employers of changes to the regulations or
updates as necessary.
    (e) The Department shall provide support services for any
public employer who needs assistance with the public employer's
self-inspection programs. The Department may furnish safety
education material and literature and may advise and cooperate
with employers and organizations and groups of employees in the
conduct of safety education programs and in the observation of
safety practices. The Department shall through the Division
enforce the provisions of this Act, and any other law relating
to the inspection of places of employment in the State.
(Source: P.A. 86-820; 87-245.)
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.9 new)
    Sec. 2.9. Laboratory services. The Department shall enlist
the services of certified laboratories to provide analysis and
interpretation of results via contractual services.
 
    (820 ILCS 220/2.10 new)  (from 820 ILCS 220/2, in part)
    Sec. 2.10. Adoption of rules; designation of personnel to
hear evidence in disputed matters.
    (a) The Director of Labor shall adopt such rules and
regulations as he or she may deem necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act, including, but not limited to, rules
and regulations dealing with: (1) the inspection of an
employer's establishment and (2) the designation of proper
parties, pleadings, notice, discovery, the issuance of
subpoenas, transcripts, and oral argument.
    All information reported to or otherwise obtained by the
Director of Labor or his or her authorized representative in
connection with any inspection or proceeding under this Act or
the Health and Safety Act, which contains or might reveal a
trade secret shall be considered confidential, except that such
information may be disclosed confidentially to other officers
or employees concerned with carrying out this Act or the Health
and Safety Act or when relevant to any proceeding under this
Act. In any such proceeding, the Director of Labor or the court
shall issue such orders as may be appropriate, including the
impoundment of files, or portions of files, to protect the
confidentiality of trade secrets.
    Any person who shall violate the confidentiality of trade
secrets shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
    (b) The Director of Labor may designate personnel to hear
evidence in disputed matters.
    (h) Any employer who willfully violates any standard, rule
or order, if that violation caused death to any employee, shall
be guilty of a Class 4 felony.
    (i) Whoever knowingly makes a false statement,
representation, or certification in any application, record,
report, plan or other document required pursuant to this Act,
shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.
    (j) The Director of Labor shall also issue regulations
requiring that employers, through posting of notices or other
appropriate means, keep their employees informed of their
protections and obligations under these Acts, including the
provisions of applicable standards.
    (k) The Director of Labor shall issue regulations requiring
employers to maintain accurate records of employee exposures to
potentially toxic material or harmful physical agents which are
required to be monitored or measured under the Health and
Safety Act. Such regulations shall provide employees or their
representatives with an opportunity to observe such monitoring
or measuring, and to have access to the records thereof. Such
regulations shall also make appropriate provisions for each
employee or former employee to have access to such records as
will indicate his or her own exposure to toxic materials or
harmful physical agents. Each employer shall promptly notify
any employee who has been or is being exposed to toxic
materials or harmful physical agents in concentrations or at
levels which exceed those prescribed by an Illinois
occupational safety and health standard and shall inform any
employee who is being thus exposed of the corrective action
being taken.
(Source: P.A. 86-820; 87-245.)
 
    Section 10. The Health and Safety Act is amended by
changing Section 2 and changing and resectioning Section 4 as
follows:
 
    (820 ILCS 225/2)  (from Ch. 48, par. 137.2)
    Sec. 2.
    This Act shall apply to all public employers engaged in any
occupation, business or enterprise in this State, and their
employees, including the State of Illinois and its employees
and all political subdivisions and its employees, except that
nothing in this Act shall apply to working conditions of
employees with respect to which Federal agencies, and State
agencies acting under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of
1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2021), exercise statutory authority
to prescribe or enforce standards or regulations affecting
occupational safety and health. Any regulations in excess of
applicable Federal standards shall, before being promulgated,
be the subject of hearings as required by this Act.
(Source: P.A. 78-867.)
 
    (820 ILCS 225/4)  (from 820 ILCS 225/4, in part)
    Sec. 4. Records and reports; work-related deaths,
injuries, and illnesses.
    (a) The Director shall prescribe rules requiring employers
to maintain accurate records of, and to make reports on,
work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, other than minor
injuries requiring only first aid treatment which do not
involve medical treatment, loss of consciousness, restriction
of work or motion, or transfer to another job. Such rules shall
specifically include all of the reporting provisions of Section
6 of the Workers' Compensation Act and Section 6 of the
Workers' Occupational Diseases Act.
    (b) Such records shall be available to any State agency
requiring such information.
    (c) All reports filed hereunder shall be confidential and
any person having access to such records filed with the
Director as herein required, who shall release any information
therein contained including the names or otherwise identify any
persons sustaining injuries or disabilities, or give access to
such information to any unauthorized person, shall be subject
to discipline or discharge, and in addition shall be guilty of
a Class B misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 87-245.)
 
    (820 ILCS 225/4.1 new)  (from 820 ILCS 225/4, in part)
    Sec. 4.1. Adoption of federal safety and health standards
as rules.
    (a) (d) All federal occupational safety and health
standards which the United States Secretary of Labor has
heretofore promulgated, modified or revoked in accordance with
the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, shall
be and are hereby made rules of the Director unless the
Director shall make, promulgate, and publish an alternate rule
at least as effective in providing safe and healthful
employment and places of employment as a federal standard.
Prior to the development and promulgation of alternate
standards or the modification or revocation of existing
standards, the Director must consider factual information
including:
        (1) Expert technical knowledge.
        (2) Input from interested persons including employers,
    employees, recognized standards-producing organizations,
    and the public.
    (b) All federal occupational safety and health standards
which the United States Secretary of Labor shall hereafter
promulgate, modify or revoke in accordance with the Federal
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 shall become the
rules of the Department 6 months 60 days after their federal
effective date, unless there shall have been in effect in this
State at the time of the promulgation, modification or
revocation of such rule an alternate State rule at least as
effective in providing safe and healthful employment and places
of employment as a federal standard. However, such rule shall
not become effective until the following requirements have been
met:
        (1) The Department shall within 45 days after the
    federal effective date of such rule, publish in the
    "Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Bulletin" the
    provisions of such rule and in addition thereto shall file
    with the office of the Secretary of State in Springfield,
    Illinois, a certified copy of such rule as provided in "The
    Illinois Administrative Procedure Act", approved August
    22, 1975, as amended; or
        (2) In the event of the Department's failure to publish
    or file a certified copy with the Secretary of State, any
    resident of the State of Illinois may upon 5 days written
    notice to the Director publish such rule in one or more
    newspapers of general circulation and file a certified copy
    thereof with the office of the Secretary of State in
    Springfield, Illinois, whereupon such rule shall become
    effective provided that in no event shall such effective
    date be less than 60 days after the federal effective date.
    (c) The Director of Labor may promulgate emergency
temporary standards or rules to take effect immediately by
filing such rule or rules with the Illinois Secretary of State
providing that the Director of Labor shall first expressly
determine:
        (1) that the employees are exposed to grave danger from
    exposure to substances or agents determined to be toxic or
    physically harmful or from new hazards; and
        (2) that such emergency standard is necessary to
    protect employees from such danger.
    The Director of Labor shall adopt emergency temporary
standards promulgated by the federal Occupational Safety and
Health Administration within 30 days of federal notice. Such
temporary emergency standards shall be effective until
superseded by a permanent standard but in no event for more
than 6 months from the date of its publication. The publication
of such temporary emergency standards shall be deemed to be a
petition to the Director of Labor for the promulgation of a
permanent standard and shall be deemed to be filed with the
Director of Labor on the date of its publication and the
proceeding for the permanent promulgation of the rule shall be
pursued in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
    (d)(1) Any standard promulgated under this Act shall
prescribe the use of labels or other appropriate forms of
warning as are necessary to ensure that employees are apprised
of all hazards to which they are exposed, relevant symptoms and
appropriate emergency treatment, and proper conditions and
precautions of safe use or exposure.
    (2) Where appropriate, such standard shall also prescribe
suitable protective equipment and control or technological
procedures to be used in connection with such hazards and shall
provide for monitoring or measuring employee exposure at such
locations and intervals, and in such manner as may be necessary
for the protection of employees.
    (3) In addition, where appropriate, any such standard shall
prescribe the type and frequency of medical examinations or
other tests which shall be made available, by the employer or
at the employer's cost, to employees exposed to such hazards in
order to most effectively determine whether the health of such
employees is adversely affected by such exposure. The results
of such examinations or tests shall be furnished by the
employer only to the Department of Labor, or at the direction
of the Department to authorized medical personnel and at the
request of the employee to the employee's physician.
    (4) The Director of Labor, in promulgating standards
dealing with toxic materials or harmful physical agents under
this subsection, shall set the standard which most adequately
ensures, to the extent feasible, on the basis of the best
available evidence, that no employee will suffer material
impairment of health or functional capacity even if such
employee has regular exposure to the hazard dealt with by such
standard for the period of the employee's working life.
    (5) Development of standards under this subsection shall be
based upon research, demonstrations, experiments, and such
other information as may be appropriate. In addition to the
attainment of the highest degree of health and safety
protection for the employee, other considerations shall be the
latest available scientific data in the field, the feasibility
of the standards, and experience gained under this and other
health and safety laws. Whenever practicable, the standard
promulgated shall be expressed in terms of objective criteria
and of the performance desired.
(Source: P.A. 87-245.)
 
    (820 ILCS 225/4.2 new)  (from 820 ILCS 225/4, in part)
    Sec. 4.2. Variances.
    (a) The Director of Labor has the authority to grant either
temporary or permanent variances from any of the State
standards upon application by a public employer. Any variance
from a State health and safety standard may have only future
effect.
    (b) (e) Any public employer may apply to the Director of
Labor for a temporary order granting a variance from a standard
or any provision thereof promulgated under this Act.
        (1) Such temporary order shall be granted only if the
    employer files an application which meets the requirements
    of paragraph (1) of this subsection (b) (e) and
    establishes:
            (A) that he is unable to comply with a standard by
        its effective date because of unavailability of
        professional or technical personnel or of materials
        and equipment needed to come into compliance with the
        standard or because necessary construction or
        alteration of facilities cannot be completed by the
        effective date;
            (B) that he is taking all available steps to
        safeguard his employees against the hazards covered by
        the standard; and
            (C) that he has an effective program for coming
        into compliance with a standard as quickly as
        practicable.
        Any temporary order issued under this Section shall
    prescribe the practices, means, methods, operations and
    processes which the employer must adopt and use while the
    order is in effect and state in detail his program for
    coming into compliance with the standard.
        (2) Such a temporary order may be granted only after
    notice to employees and an opportunity for a hearing.
    However, in cases involving only documentary evidence in
    support of the application for a temporary variance and in
    which no objection is made or hearing requested by the
    employees or their representative, the Director of Labor
    may issue a temporary variance in accordance with this Act.
        (3) In the event the application is contested or a
    hearing requested, the application shall be heard and
    determined by the Director.
        (4) No order for a temporary variance may be in effect
    for longer than the period needed by the employer to
    achieve compliance with the standard or one year, whichever
    is shorter, except that such an order may be renewed not
    more than twice, so long as the requirements of this
    paragraph are met and if an application for renewal is
    filed at least 90 days prior to the expiration date of the
    order. No interim renewal of an order may remain in effect
    for longer than 180 days.
        (5) (1) An application for a temporary order as herein
    provided shall contain:
            (A) a. a specification of the standard or portion
        thereof from which the employer seeks a variance;
            (B) b. a representation by the employer, supported
        by representations from qualified persons having
        first-hand knowledge of the facts represented, that he
        is unable to comply with a standard or portion thereof
        and a detailed statement of the reasons therefor;
            (C) c. a statement of the steps he has taken and
        will take (with specific dates) to protect employees
        against a hazard covered by the standard;
            (D) a statement of when d. the date by which he
        expects to be able to comply with the standard and what
        steps he has taken and will take (with dates specified)
        to comply with the standard; and
            (E) e. a certification that he has informed his
        employees of the application by giving a copy thereof
        to their authorized representatives, posting a
        statement summarizing the application and specifying
        where employees may examine a copy of such application.
        A description of how employees have been informed shall
    be contained in the certification. The information to
    employees shall also inform them of their right to petition
    the Director for a hearing.
        (6) (2) The Director of Labor is authorized to grant a
    variance from any standard or portion thereof whenever the
    Director of Labor determines that such variance is
    necessary to permit an employer to participate in an
    experiment approved by the Director of Labor designed to
    demonstrate or validate new and improved techniques to
    safeguard the health or safety of workers.
    (c) (f) Any affected employer may apply to the Director of
Labor for a rule or order for a permanent variance other than a
temporary variance from a standard promulgated under this Act.
Affected employees shall be given notice of each such
application and an opportunity to participate in a hearing. The
Director of Labor shall issue such rule or order if he
determines on the record, after opportunity for an inspection
where appropriate and a hearing, that the proponent of the
variance has demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence
that the conditions, practices, means, methods, operations or
processes used or proposed to be used by an employer will
provide employment and places of employment to his employees
which are as safe and healthful as those which would prevail if
he complied with the standard. The rule or order so issued
shall prescribe the conditions the employer must maintain, and
the practices, means, methods, operations, and processes which
he must adopt and utilize to the extent they differ from the
standard in question. Such a rule or order may be modified or
revoked upon application by an employer, or employees, or by
the Director of Labor on his own motion, in the manner
prescribed for its issuance under this Section at any time
after 6 months from its issuance.
    (g) The Director of Labor may promulgate emergency
temporary standards or rules to take effect immediately by
filing such rule or rules with the Illinois Secretary of State
and publishing them in the "Illinois Occupational Safety and
Health Bulletin" or if that is not available, in one or more
newspapers of general circulation providing that the Director
of Labor shall first expressly determine (1) that the employees
are exposed to grave danger from exposure to substances or
agents determined to be toxic or physically harmful or from new
hazards, and (2) that such emergency standard is necessary to
protect employees from such danger.
    Such temporary emergency standard shall be effective until
superseded by a permanent standard but in no event for more
than 6 months from the date of its publication.
    The publication of such temporary emergency standard shall
be deemed to be a petition to the Director of Labor for the
promulgation of a permanent standard and shall be deemed to be
filed with the Director of Labor on the date of its publication
and the proceeding for the permanent promulgation of the rule
shall be pursued in accordance with the provisions of Section 7
of this Act.
    (h) Any standard promulgated under this Act shall prescribe
the use of labels or other appropriate forms of warning as are
necessary to insure that employees are apprised of all hazards
to which they are exposed, relevant symptoms and appropriate
emergency treatment, and proper conditions and precautions of
safe use or exposure. Where appropriate, such standard shall
also prescribe suitable protective equipment and control or
technological procedures to be used in connection with such
hazards and shall provide for a monitoring or measuring
employee exposure at such locations and intervals, and in such
manner as may be necessary for the protection of employees. In
addition, where appropriate, any such standard shall prescribe
the type and frequency of medical examinations or other tests
which shall be made available, by the employer or at his cost,
to employees exposed to such hazards in order to most
effectively determine whether the health of such employees is
adversely affected by such exposure. The results of such
examinations or tests shall be furnished by the employer only
to the Department of Labor, or at the direction of the
Department to authorized medical personnel and at the request
of the employee to his physician. The Director of Labor, in
promulgating standards dealing with toxic materials or harmful
physical agents under this subsection, shall set the standard
which most adequately assures, to the extent feasible, on the
basis of the best available evidence, that no employee will
suffer material impairment of health or functional capacity
even if such employee has regular exposure to the hazard dealt
with by such standard for the period of his working life.
Development of standards under this subsection shall be based
upon research, demonstrations, experiments, and such other
information as may be appropriate. In addition to the
attainment of the highest degree of health and safety
protection for the employee, other considerations shall be the
latest available scientific data in the field, the feasibility
of the standards, and experience gained under this and other
health and safety laws. Whenever practicable, the standard
promulgated shall be expressed in terms of objective criteria
and of the performance desired.
(Source: P.A. 87-245.)