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Michigan House passes bill to extend farm reporting time of deaths

The Michigan House of Representatives has passed legislation amending the state’s occupational safety and health act to protect family farms from fines that could occur if a death on the farm is not reported within eight hours of its occurrence.

State Representative Bronna Kahle introduced the bill after she learned of the $12,000 fine given to the Eisenmann family in Blissfield Township, after owner Keith died from a fall on the farm in November of 2019.

“It’s unfair for big government to expect a family to think of calling a bureaucratic agency to report the death of a loved one within mere hours of such a heartbreaking event,” she says.

Keith’s wife Barbra testified during a recent House Ag Committee hearing relaying her experience and wishes for no other farm family to find themselves in her position.

“It is our desire today to see this reporting law and fine changed as it has been another aspect of trauma and financial hardship for our farm and our family,” she shares.

The bill increases the reporting time to seven days and lowers civil penalties from $7,000 to $500.  The measure now moves to the Senate and is expected to be passed.