The Superior Grocers supermarket chain was assessed $79,200 in fines Tuesday for allowing 16- and 17-year-old employees to operate heavy machinery in violation of child labor laws.

U.S. Labor Department investigators found 40 workplace violations for the workers operating scrap-paper balers, paper box compactors, power-driven hoists and forklifts, said Deanne Amaden, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Attorney Jason Kearnaghan, representing the grocery chain, said that parent company Super Center Concepts Inc. of Santa Fe Springs would contest the fines. He declined to comment further. Superior Grocers operates 33 supermarkets in Southern California.

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