Amusement Rides and Attraction Safety

Every amusement ride and amusement attraction open to the public and operating in the State of Illinois must be inspected prior to initial operation and annually thereafter. To be inspected, every owner must first submit a completed application packet to the Department of Labor. Once a ride or attraction has been approved for operation by an inspector, a permit decal shall be affixed to each ride or attraction. Permits are valid for one calendar year (January 1st through December 31st).

At the time of inspection, owners are required to provide documentation that they have conducted a criminal history records check and sex offender registry check for all operators, attendants and assistants, provide documentation that they received proper training and have a substance abuse policy in place, which includes random drug testing.

Examples of amusement rides and attractions that require annual safety inspections prior to operation in the State of Illinois include, but are not limited to:

• adventure courses
• carnival rides
• carousels
• dry slides
• haunted houses
• go-kart tracks
• ski lifts and rope tows
• mechanical bulls
• mobile climbing walls
• power trampolines and eurobungees
• ride simulators
• trampoline parks
• trains
• trams
• inflatable attractions (i.e. moonwalks or bounce houses)
• Zip lines

The Illinois Department of Labor proposed new rules regulating amusement rides and attractions in Illinois. These are not yet effective. 

The department is accepting comments on this proposed rule. Interested parties may file a comment with the department by June 17.  The directions for submitting public comment are included in the linked document, on page 2 item #12.

Summary of the Rule:  This rulemaking implements Public Act 103-177. The rulemaking gives the Director increased discretion on when permit applications may be accepted and allows permit denials for applicants with histories of misrepresentation to the Department. It additionally requires permitted entities to have a First Aid and CPR certified employee on staff at all times of operation. The rulemaking eliminates an exemption for drug testing and background checks for volunteer carnival workers. This rulemaking will codify the practice of the Department issuing a correction notice to carnival operators. This rulemaking will establish that continuing to operate in violation of a cessation order is a Class A misdemeanor. This rulemaking implements a third tier of daily penalties for operation or carnival rides or amusements without a permit and a fine of up to $1,000 for any violation of the Act. This rulemaking allows the Department to serve documents via email if the party consents. This rulemaking codifies the industry practice that carnival operators are responsible for notifying IDOL of their contracted events. This rulemaking clarifies when and that an owner or operator may use an inspection report from a municipality or county to request a waiver of Department inspection.

Read the proposed rules here.

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