In Illinois, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1910.147 (Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is enforced for private construction employers by federal OSHA (the state plan, Illinois OSHA (IL OSHA), covers only public employees).
29 CFR 1910.147 · Illinois
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Requirements in Illinois
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) in Illinois: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1910.147, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
IllinoisGeneral Industry (29 CFR 1910)Federal OSHA (private) · State plan (public)
29 CFR 1910.147 does not apply to construction work. In Illinois, federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1910.147. The federal maximum for a serious violation is $16,550.
$16,550
federal maximum for a serious violation
$165,514
federal maximum for a willful or repeat violation
2.7
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Illinois, 2024 (BLS)
What federal OSHA is targeting in Illinois
Illinois has no state OSHA plan for private-sector work, so there is no state rule to read. What differs here is which hazards federal OSHA schedules inspections for, as set out in published emphasis directives.
Regional Emphasis Program for Grain Handling Facilities
CPL 04-05-2301 · Chicago Regional Office · effective October 1, 2023
“The Notice applies to grain handling facilities within the jurisdiction of all Region V Area OSHA Offices.”
Grain handling is programmed across every Region V area office. It matters here because the grain handling standard, 1910.272, requires an entry permit for bins, silos and tanks unless the employer or its representative is present, and requires dangerous equipment to be locked out before entry, so a grain inspection looks at entry permits and energy control.
Contact incidents and work deaths in Illinois, 2024
Illinois recorded 156 fatal work injuries in 2024, up from 145 in 2023. Contact incidents caused 20 of them (13%). Construction accounted for 26.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Illinois, 2024
How Illinois Enforces 29 CFR 1910.147
Illinois operates an OSHA-approved state plan (Illinois OSHA (IL OSHA)), but it covers only state and local government employees. Private-sector construction employers in Illinois are inspected by federal OSHA, which enforces 29 CFR 1910.147 directly using the federal penalty maximums. So if you run a private construction company in Illinois, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) citations come from a federal Department of Labor compliance officer, not Illinois OSHA (IL OSHA).
29 CFR 1910.147 is a general-industry standard and does not govern construction work. “This standard does not cover the following: (A) Construction and agriculture employment”. Branding a construction program “1910.147 compliant” cites the wrong standard. Unlike confined spaces, Part 1926 has no wholesale re-enactment of 1910.147: construction energy-control duties are spread across hazard-specific provisions, so no single construction equivalent is named here. An Illinois contractor auditing against 29 CFR 1910.147 is auditing against the wrong standard. The citation an officer writes on a construction site will name the 1926 provision, not this one.
For a private-sector jobsite in Illinois, HazComFast shows that federal OSHA has jurisdiction, because the state plan covers public employers only. Start free
Help and oversight in Illinois
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Illinois, the program is Illinois On-site Consultation (Illinois Department of Labor). OSHA describes it as “Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs.” It is separate from OSHA enforcement; the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
A State Plan for public employers only
“Illinois OSHA covers all state and local government workers in the state.” “OSHA also exercises authority over private sector employers in the state and federal OSHA standards apply to these workers.”
Initial approval September 01, 2009 · 29 CFR 1952.27 · osha.gov
Who inspects private employers here
Federal OSHA, from the Chicago North Area Office (Arlington Heights), the Chicago South Area Office (Tinley Park), the Fairview Heights Area Office (Fairview Heights), the Naperville Area Office (Naperville) and the Peoria Area Office (Peoria).
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Illinois Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1910.147 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $16,550 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Willful | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Repeat | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Failure to abate | $16,550/day | up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6) |
Illinois applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Federal OSHA reduces the proposed penalty for employer size, good faith and history (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch. 6). There was no inflation increase for 2026: the 2025 amounts remain in effect (OMB Memo M-26-11).
Key Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Requirements 29 CFR 1910.147
- Develop machine-specific energy control procedures
- Train authorized, affected, and other employees
- Use standardized lockout/tagout devices
- Follow the 6-step LOTO sequence
- Conduct annual periodic inspections of procedures
- Coordinate group lockout for multi-employee servicing
Who enforces it in Illinois: Federal OSHA inspects private construction employers; the Illinois OSHA (IL OSHA) State Plan covers state and local government workers only.
The compliance checklist, the paragraphs OSHA cites nationally and what an inspector checks under 29 CFR 1910.147 are on the 29 CFR 1910.147 page.
What a Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Violation Looks Like
Each item below breaches a specific paragraph of 29 CFR 1910.147. It is a list of requirements, not a ranking. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- No documented, machine-specific energy control procedures (1910.147(c)(4)).
- Failure to conduct the required at-least-annual periodic inspection of procedures (1910.147(c)(6)).
- Authorized/affected employees not trained (or retrained after changes) (1910.147(c)(7)).
- Stored or residual energy not released or restrained before servicing (1910.147(d)(5)).
- No verification of de-energization/isolation before work begins (1910.147(d)(6)).
Illinois Safety & Enforcement Profile
26,559
Federal construction citations (national, FY2025)
3,267 of them in Illinois (HazComFast count)
Federal OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Illinois, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (558), Framing Contractors (154) and Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (133), out of 1,431 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Construction fatality rate in Illinois, 2024: 8.4 per 100,000 full-time workers, 26th highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 2.7).
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) opened from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, federal OSHA and State Plan combined, grouped by the inspected employer's 2022 NAICS industry. Industry names are the Census Bureau's 2022 NAICS titles. data.dol.gov · BLS fatality rates by state, 2024
Free Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Compliance Tools
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) FAQ for Illinois
Which Illinois industries most often face a Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) inspection?
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) inspections reach general-industry employers in Illinois, not the construction trades. Private-sector employers answer to federal OSHA (the Illinois OSHA (IL OSHA) plan covers only public workers). A construction employer is not governed by 29 CFR 1910.147, and the construction-side duties on this subject are not concentrated in a single standard. Check your Part 1926 obligations instead.
How often is Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) cited in Illinois?
29 CFR 1910.147 is enforced against general-industry employers in Illinois, so the construction citation totals published for Illinois (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23) do not measure it. “This standard does not cover the following: (A) Construction and agriculture employment”. Branding a construction program “1910.147 compliant” cites the wrong standard. Unlike confined spaces, Part 1926 has no wholesale re-enactment of 1910.147: construction energy-control duties are spread across hazard-specific provisions, so no single construction equivalent is named here. A construction employer is not governed by 29 CFR 1910.147, and the construction-side duties on this subject are not concentrated in a single standard. Check your Part 1926 obligations instead.
Does OSHA require a written lockout/tagout program for Illinois employers?
Yes. 29 CFR 1910.147 requires an energy control program with documented procedures for the equipment serviced, employee training, and a periodic inspection of each procedure at least annually. For private Illinois employers, federal OSHA can cite the missing program, missing machine-specific steps, or the failure to isolate stored energy before service.
Who enforces lockout/tagout (1910.147) for a private Illinois employer?
Federal OSHA. Illinois's state plan covers only public employees, so a compliance officer from OSHA's Chicago region inspects and cites 1910.147 on private jobsites, at the federal penalty maximums.
Can I get free OSHA help in Illinois without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Illinois is Illinois On-site Consultation (Illinois Department of Labor). OSHA describes it this way: "Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs." Consultations are separate from OSHA enforcement, and the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Related standards
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) in Other States
7 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1910.147 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
California8 CCR §3314 (applied to all employments by §3202(a))own maxHawaii29 CFR 1910.147 as incorporated by HAR §12-60-50(a), with §12-60-4 and §12-60-6Indiana29 CFR 1910.147 as applied in Indiana; review by the board of safety review, not OSHRCown maxKentucky803 KAR 2:309, Section 3own maxMinnesotaMinn. R. 5207.0600Nevada29 CFR 1910.147 as applied in Nevada, with NRS 618.383UtahUtah Admin. Code R614-1-5.D.6.bown maxAlabama
Other OSHA Standards in Illinois
Sources & verification
Penalty amounts and plan-type data were checked on 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register. This page is informational and not legal advice; consult the enforcing agency or counsel for your specific situation.
Get the Binder in Order Before the Inspector Arrives. Are You Ready?
OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.
Serious Violation
$16,550
per violation (max)
VS
HazComFast Pro
$199/mo
10 jobsites, unlimited chemicals, unlimited workers
New sign-ups are paused. The free tools below need no account, and customers can log in as usual.
Your account keeps working as usual. Cancel anytime.