The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) was the target of harsh criticism when the agency inspected and issued fines to small farms engaging in grain storage activities.
The farms argued that OSHA did not have the authority to issue fines, because of the "small farm exemption," which limits OSHA’s authority to enforce safety regulations on small farms.
OSHA has released a guidance memorandum that clarifies how its regional administrators should interpret the small farm exemption. The new guidance defines whether an activity on a small farm is “not related to farming operations and not necessary to gain economic value from products produced on the farm.”
For more information on the small farm exemption, visit The OSU Agricultural Law & Taxation blog here. The OSU Agricultural Law & Taxation blog is an excellent resource for current issues involving agricultural and tax law in Ohio.
