(820 ILCS 245/1) (from Ch. 48, par. 261) Sec. 1. When used in this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise, the term (a) "Caisson" means a wood, steel, concrete or reenforced concrete air-tight and water-tight chamber in which it is possible for men to work to excavate material. (b) "Lock" means a chamber designed to facilitate the passage of men and materials from an air pressure greater than normal, as in a compartment, caisson or tunnel, to the ground or water level or normal air pressure. (c) "Pressure" means gauge air pressure in pounds per square inch. (d) "Tunnel" means a subterranean passage or chamber. (Source: Laws 1939, p. 614.)

(820 ILCS 245/2) (from Ch. 48, par. 262) Sec. 2. The working period of any person under compressed air in any compartment, caisson, tunnel or places shall be divided into two periods under compressed air with an interval of rest between the two periods. If the air pressure exceeds fifteen pounds per square inch, the said interval of rest must be spent in the open air. Persons who have not previously worked in compressed air, when the air pressure exceeds fifteen pounds per square inch, shall work therein only one of the two said periods during the first twenty-four hours of their employment. Except in cases of extreme emergency no person shall be employed or subjected to pressure exceeding fifty pounds per square inch. The maximum number of hours to each period and the minimum rest intervals between the periods during any twenty-four hours for any pressure as given in columns one and two of the following table shall be set opposite such pressure in columns three, four, five, six and seven of said table: ..............................................................

Pressure

Hours

More

Not More

Minimum

than

than

inter-

mini-

maxi-

val

Minimum

Maximum

mum

mum

First

of rest

inter-

second

number

number

Maximum

period in

in open

val of

period in

of

of

total

compressed

air-

rest-

compressed

pounds

pounds

hours

air-hours

hours

hours

air-hours

........

Column

Column

Column

Column

Column

Column

Column

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

........

Normal

15

8

*

1/3

*

15

26

6

3

1

3

26

33

4

2

2

2

33

38

3

1 1/2

3

1 1/2

38

43

2

1

4

1

43

48

1 1/2

3/4

5

3/4

48 or

over

1

1/2

6

1/2

.............................................................. *The employer may determine the time of each period when the pressure is not more than fifteen pounds per square inch, provided that the total for the periods does not exceed eight hours. The limits or hours as specified in said table shall apply according to the maximum pressure attained at any time during the period. (Source: Laws 1939, p. 614.)

(820 ILCS 245/3) (from Ch. 48, par. 263) Sec. 3. No person employed in compressed air shall be permitted to pass from the working chamber to normal air, except after decompression in a lock as follows: (a) Where the air pressure is greater than normal and not more than fifteen pounds per square inch, the time of decompression shall be at least two minutes; (b) Where the air pressure is more than fifteen pounds per square inch, and not more than twenty-six pounds per square inch, decompression shall be at the average rate of not more than three pounds per minute; (c) Where the air pressure is more than twenty-six pounds per square inch, and not more than thirty-three pounds per square inch, decompression shall be at the average rate of not more than two pounds per minute; (d) Where the air pressure is more than thirty-three pounds per square inch, decompression shall be at the average rate of not more than one pound per minute; (e) Where the air pressure is more than fifteen pounds per square inch, a stage decompression shall be used in which a drop of one-half of the maximum gauge pressure shall be at the rate of five pounds per minute. The remaining decompression shall be at a uniform rate and the total time of decompression shall equal the time specified for the original maximum pressure; (f) The time of decompression shall be posted in each man lock. (Source: Laws 1939, p. 614.)

(820 ILCS 245/4) (from Ch. 48, par. 264) Sec. 4. Every employer of workers in compressed air and every agent, foreman, manager or superintendent thereof in charge of such work, shall be responsible for the observance of this Act. (Source: Laws 1939, p. 614.)

(820 ILCS 245/5) (from Ch. 48, par. 265) Sec. 5. Any employer of workers under compressed air or any agent, foreman, manager or superintendent thereof in charge of such work, who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a petty offense. (Source: P.A. 77-2437.)

(820 ILCS 245/6) (from Ch. 48, par. 266) Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the Department of Labor to enforce the provisions of this Act and prosecute all violations of the same before any Court of competent jurisdiction in this State, and for that purpose the Department of Labor, its officers and duly authorized employees are hereby empowered to visit and inspect at all reasonable times, all places where work is done in compressed air. (Source: Laws 1939, p. 614.)

(820 ILCS 245/7) (from Ch. 48, par. 267) Sec. 7. The invalidity of any portion of this Act shall in no way affect the validity of any other portion hereof. (Source: Laws 1939, p. 614.)

(820 ILCS 245/8) (from Ch. 48, par. 268) Sec. 8. This Act may be cited as the Work Under Compressed Air Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1475.)