The tragic death of 16-year-old Michael Schuls at a Wisconsin sawmill has raised serious questions about the state's child labor laws. Schuls was attempting to clear a jam in a wood-stacking machine at Florence Hardwoods on June 29th when the conveyor belt he was on shifted, trapping him. He succumbed to his injuries two days later in a Milwaukee hospital.

While investigations by state and federal labor agencies are underway to ascertain if any workplace safety or child labor regulations were violated, the incident has coincided with a push by Wisconsin lawmakers to relax child labor restrictions. One such proposal would permit 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in specific settings, a move that has drawn criticism in light of Schuls' death.

Although most sawmill and logging work is off-limits to minors, Wisconsin law allows 16-year-olds to work in planing mills, the type of facility where Schuls was employed. Security footage revealed that Schuls stepped onto the conveyor belt without engaging the safety shut-off, and a considerable amount of time elapsed before a coworker discovered him. The coroner confirmed the cause of death as traumatic asphyxiation.

Schuls' death has deeply impacted the small town of Florence, where he was a student-athlete at Florence High School. A GoFundMe page has been established to support his family. This incident has ignited a debate about the balance between providing work opportunities for young people and ensuring their safety in potentially hazardous environments.