Pizza Hut Fined For Labor Law Violations

The Labor Department has fined Pizza Hut $194,400 for allegedly letting teenagers operate dangerous equipment like slicing machines and electric dough mixers at restaurants in the New York area.

Federal law prohibits anyone under 18 from operating the machines.

The violations involved 75 minors at 26 Pizza Huts in New York City and its northern suburbs from June to March, the government said Wednesday.

Pizza Hut, based in Dallas, did not immediately return calls for comment, and there was no indication if it would appeal the fines.

Bruce Sullivan, a Labor Department administrator in New York, said the violations occurred even though Pizza Hut had asked its young workers to sign an agreement indicating they knew they weren’t allowed to touch the machines.