The death of a child has led to a push for tougher federal regulations regarding restaurant grease traps.

The mother of Bryce Raynor is enlisting some high-powered help in her quest for change.

“Here I stand in front of very important people, trying to make this happen,” said Tenitia Cullum, fighting back tears as she stood in front of the federal building in Rochester.

Bryce died in June after he fell into a grease trap at the Tim Horton's restaurant on University Avenue in Rochester. He was just 3 years old.

Cullum wants to make sure her son didn’t die in vain, and she has some help.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) joined the Rochester woman in calling on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to boost regulations for grease traps.

“OSHA has regulations for pits and holes,” said Schumer. “But it doesn't have regulations for grease traps, anything specific."

Cullum worked at the restaurant where the tragedy took place. Her son was with her at the time of the incident. Authorities say a plastic lid gave way and the boy fell in. By the time someone found him, just minutes after he disappeared, it was too late to save him.

“I will do everything I can to make sure every grease trap and septic tank is locked and secured,” Cullum said.

Schumer is calling on OSHA to mandate that all grease trap covers be secured by padlock, have stronger covers, and a secondary protection device in case the cover fails. He says currently they are under-regulated by OSHA.

“I think because grease traps are not as common and there have been fewer accidents,” said Schumer. “But when they occur, they're often worse than anything that can happen in a shallow ditch."

The grieving mom sees federal legislation on grease traps as a higher calling.

“That's my mission,” she said. “I just don't want any family to go through what I'm going through every day."

In September, Cullum filed a notice of claim, intending to sue Monroe County and the City of Rochester over her son's death.

There has already been progress on the local level since the tragedy. In July, Monroe County passed regulations intended to make grease traps safer through stronger lids and annual inspections.

OSHA fined Tim Horton's close to $8,700 for the incident.