WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) said Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) decision to drop its case against a Holt County farm is an important step in bringing the agency back in line with the law. The small farm, which was illegally targeted by OSHA, had been facing $132,000 in fines.
“OSHA had no business regulating this family farm to begin with,” Johanns said. “I’m pleased they are doing the right thing by correctly dropping the case. Producers shouldn’t have to worry about the government placing undue and illegal burdens on their operations. The law clearly exempts small farms from OSHA regulations, and I’m glad the agency took this step to get back in line with the law.”
Earlier this year, Johanns’ language clarifying a 30-plus year provision that excludes family farms with fewer than 10 employees from being regulated by OSHA was included in the omnibus appropriations package. Johanns also led 42 Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter demanding the agency immediately stop the regulation of family farms. Since then, OSHA has pledged to clarify its policies on regulating the activity of these farms.
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