Ralphs Cited for Child Labor Law Violations : Crackdown: U.S. alleges teen-agers worked more hours than allowed. Other businesses also cited.

Several Ralphs supermarkets in Orange County have been cited for violating federal child labor laws.

The grocery-store chain accounted for two-thirds of the 58 violations found so far by U.S. Labor Department inspectors as they examined local businesses this spring.

The inspections were part of a nationwide crackdown on violators of child labor laws, the Labor Department said.

The Labor Department levied fines totaling $25,000 against several Ralphs supermarkets in Orange County and elsewhere in Southern California. In Orange County, the department said, Ralphs let 43 teen-agers between 14 and 15 years old work more hours than federal law allows.

Of Ralph’s 156 stores in the region, 43 were cited, the chain said. The fines averaged about $600 a store for what the company called “pretty minor” violations.

Ralphs Grocery Stores, based in Compton, said it has paid the fines already.

A Labor Department official said Wednesday that the investigation is continuing nationwide and that the agency may cite more grocery stores in Orange County--but not Ralphs--for even more serious labor law violations, such as employing minors in dangerous jobs.

Across the nation, the Labor Department has levied $1.6 million in fines against 500 companies so far and says it may ultimately collect more than $3.2 million from 1,200 employers.

The labor laws forbid employing 14- and 15-year-olds during school hours or before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. during the school year. They may not work more than three hours on school days or 18 hours a week during the school year.

Children under 14 cannot be employed, and those under 18 cannot be required to do hazardous jobs such as using meat-slicing equipment or baling equipment, nor can they drive cars or trucks for their work.

Also cited in Orange County for employing teen-agers for more hours than the law allows were:

* Highland Market, Fullerton, fined $2,625 on two violations and for employing one minor under 14.

* Holiday Skating Rink, Orange, fined $2,625 on four violations.

* Westminster Food and Beverage Inc., Westminster, fined $1,275 for two violations.

* Cargo Land Inc., Anaheim, fined $1,200 for four violations.

* Shoppers Discount Food, Santa Ana, fined $1,200 for two violations.

* Goldmine Yogurt Inc., Orange, fined $600 for one violation.