Bakery with Fremont Facility Faces Federal Safety Penalties

(NORWALK) - New Horizons Baking Company, which operates a facility locally in Fremont, Indiana, is facing nearly $395,000 in proposed federal workplace safety fines tied to its operations in Ohio. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says the Ohio-based commercial bakery was cited for three repeat violations, nine serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation following an investigation. OSHA says employees were exposed to chemical hazards and dangerous machinery conditions, including risks of being caught in or struck by equipment that was not properly guarded or shut down. Federal inspectors also found the company failed to properly train workers on lockout and tagout procedures, which are meant to prevent machinery from starting unexpectedly during cleaning or maintenance. New Horizons is headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, and operates multiple facilities across the state. OSHA has not specified which locations were involved in the violations or whether more than one facility was cited. Public records show the investigation began with a complaint-driven inspection in August at the company's Columbus facility. OSHA reports no injuries or deaths related to the findings but says the conditions could have caused serious harm if left uncorrected. The company has 15 business days to comply with the citations, request an informal conference, or contest the findings. Penalties could be adjusted as the case moves forward.