The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and its regulations establish safety and health standards for agricultural employees.  The Act does not cover self-employed persons or farms that employ only the family's immediate relatives.

Some of the regulatory requirements are found in Part 1910 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and include standards for:  temporary labor camps (29 C.F.R. § 1910.142); storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia (§ 1910.111(a) & (b)); logging operations (§ 1910.266); slow-moving vehicles (§ 1910.145); hazard communication (§ 1910.1200); cadmium (§ 1910.1027); retention of DOT markings, placards and labels (§ 1910.1201).  Agricultural operations are excepted from all the other provisions of Part 1910 (29 C.F.R. § 1928.21(b)). 

Other regulatory requirements include:  roll-over protective structures for tractors (§ 1928.51); protective frames and enclosures for wheel-type agricultural tractors (§ 1928.52-.53); safety mechanisms for farming equipment (§ 1928.57); and field sanitation (§ 1928.110).

The Illinois Health and Safety Act and regulations adopt the standards set by the federal Department of Labor.  The Illinois Department of Labor enforces the Act.

The Toxic Substances Disclosure to Employees Act (820 ILCS 255/et seq.) requires that employers keep certain records regarding toxic substances used in the workplace and label containers or post signs regarding the name of toxic substances and appropriate warnings.    The labeling/posting requirements do not apply to containers into which toxic substances regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) are transferred (820 ILCS 255/8(e)).  Instead, FIFRA requirements for labeling/posting apply.  Establishments that store/use toxic substances must make arrangements for fire safety and employee training (820 ILCS 255/15-16).  The Act only applies to employers with 20 or more employees or 5 full-time employees (820 ILCS 225/3(f)).

Farm health and safety resources can be found in the links section.

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