NORWALK, Ohio (WOWO) — Federal workplace safety officials are proposing nearly $400,000 in penalties against New Horizons Baking Company after an investigation found workers were exposed to hazardous conditions. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday that it cited the Ohio-based commercial bakery for three repeat violations, nine serious violations and one other-than-serious violation, proposing $394,849 in penalties. According to OSHA, inspectors determined workers were exposed to chemical hazards and machinery-related dangers, including caught-in, caught-between, pinch-point and struck-by hazards. The agency says those conditions can cause serious injuries when equipment is not properly guarded or shut down during maintenance and cleaning. OSHA said the company failed to properly train workers on lockout/tagout procedures, which require machinery to be powered down and physically locked to prevent unexpected start-ups. Inspectors also found instances where equipment was not adequately guarded. New Horizons Baking Company is headquartered in Norwalk and operates multiple facilities across Ohio, including locations in Toledo and the Columbus area. OSHA did not specify which facilities were cited or whether the violations involved more than one location. Public OSHA records show a complaint-driven inspection was opened Aug. 7 at the company’s Charter Street facility in Columbus. That inspection focused on health-related hazards and included emphasis areas involving amputation and fall risks. The case remains open, and final citation details have not yet been posted. OSHA’s announcement did not report any injuries or fatalities related to the investigation. The agency said workers were exposed to conditions that could cause serious harm if left uncorrected. Federal records show the company has been cited previously. In 2023, OSHA cited the Norwalk facility for serious violations following another complaint-driven inspection. That case resulted in reduced penalties through an informal settlement. New Horizons Baking Company has 15 business days from receiving the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Penalties may be adjusted as the case moves forward. WTOL has reached out to the company for comment. The post OSHA Proposes $394K in Penalties Against Ohio Bakery appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less