AMUSEMENT RIDE SAFETY INSPECTOR - Effingham County

State-of-Illinois; Springfield (IL); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

The Illinois Department of Labor seeks an Amusement Ride Safety Inspector for Effingham County. The role travels across the Southern Region to inspect carnival rides and attractions, ensuring compliance with established safety standards and regulations under the direction of the Chief Ride Inspector.

The ideal candidate has four-year college coursework in engineering or physical sciences, plus experience in safety inspections, with strong report-writing skills.

Qualifications

• Requires knowledge of a four-year college program including coursework in engineering, physics, physical sciences or related fields.
• Evidence of related work experience may substitute for college on a year-for-year basis.
• Two years of operating/inspecting amusement rides and performing safety inspections preferred.
• Two years of experience writing technical reports preferred.
• Two years interpreting mechanics principles preferred.
• Two years experience with inspection/enforcement methods preferred.
• One year of experience with technical drawings preferred.

Responsibilities

• Travels statewide to inspect carnival and amusement rides and attractions to ensure safety compliance.
• Prepares detailed inspection reports documenting findings and violations.
• Attends agency training sessions to stay current on amusement ride regulations.
• Provides guidance to less experienced inspectors.
• Performs other duties within the scope of the job description.

Skills

Safety inspections

Technical report writing

Mechanical systems knowledge

Public safety compliance

Education

Four-year college degree in engineering/physical sciences

Job description

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AMUSEMENT RIDE SAFETY INSPECTOR - Effingham County

We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents → Additional Documents section for each application.

Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [e-mail] or call [phone] for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

Sponsorship for Employment

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Disclosure of Salary Information

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant’s wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant’s wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.

Job Requisition ID:58522
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date: 09/22/2026
Agency: Department of Labor
Class Title:AMUSEMENT RIDE SAFETY INSPECTOR - 01061
Skill Option:None
Bilingual Option:None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $5572 monthly; Full Range $5572 - $7898 monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category:Full Time
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code:RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME
Merit Comp Code:
Work Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm M-F (Flex Schedule Available)
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability:1 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs
Headquarter Location:Springfield - 524 S 2nd St
Work County:Effingham
Agency Contact: [e-mail]

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

As a State of Illinois Department of Labor employee, you receive a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Flexible work schedules (when available and dependent upon position)
• 10 -25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 days of paid sick time annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per year
• 13-14 paid holidays per year dependent on election years
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP

Position Overview

This Amusement Ride Safety Inspector position is located in Effingham County. This position will travel to inspect a variety of carnival and amusement rides and attractions throughout the Southern Region of the State, ensuring compliance with established safety standards and regulations, reporting to Springfield, IL. This position serves under the direction of the Chief Ride Inspector. The ideal candidate requires extensive knowledge of modern methods and techniques as applied to the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of mechanical systems and equipment, and travels to inspect functional worksites and operations of amusement rides and attractions using structured guidelines to ensure safety compliance.

Essential Functions

• Travels to inspect a variety of carnival and amusement rides and attractions throughout the State – generally in the Southern Region of the State, to ensure compliance with established safety standards and regulations.
• Prepares detailed inspection reports documenting findings and detailing violations of carnival regulations and standards.
• Attends seminars, agency training sessions and other continuing education opportunities to augment work performance and keep current on changes and developments in all facets of the amusement ride and attractionindustry.
• Provides practical assistance and direction to less experienced inspectors in the areas of conducting inspectionsand investigations, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college including coursework in engineering, physics, physical sciences or directly related fields.
• Evidence of related work experience may substitute for college on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of operating/inspecting amusement rides, bounce houses and or haunted houses as an operator or inspector.
• Two (2) years of experience performing technical safety compliance inspections.
• Two (2) years of experience writing technical reports.
• Two (2) years of interpreting the principles of mechanics.
• Two (2) years of experience with methods of inspection and enforcement.
• One (1) year of experience with technical drawings.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires ability to tolerate heights and safely climb and navigate amusement rides and attractions such as the Ferris Wheel.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• This position is considered very heavy work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (20 CFR 404.1567(e)). Very Heavy work involves lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more.
• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or in
• Requires ability to prepare clear and concise reports of inspections.
• Must carry agency issued laptop and cell phone.
• Required to live within a 50-mile proximity of the County Court house or 120 W. Jefferson Avenue, Effingham, IL 62401.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

Agency Statement

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is one of Illinois' most important and dynamic Agencies. With an annual budget of $27.5 million, and an authorized staff of more than 143 full-time employees, IDOL has the capacity and capability to provide administration and enforcement of over 25 labor and safety laws.

Through enforcement, education, compliance assistance, and community partnerships, IDOL works to protect workers’ wages, welfare, working conditions, and workplace safety while helping employers understand and meet their legal responsibilities. The Department of Labor is committed to fostering safe, fair, and equitable workplaces for all Illinois workers and safeguarding the public through the regulation of amusement rides and to ensure compliance with all other labor standards.

This position DOES NOT contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs).

Revolving Door:
Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine.