State regulators have cited Hormel Foods Corp. with six safety violations after five employees were injured in an explosion and fire at the company's plant.

The state Occupational Safety and Health Division also fined the meat processor nearly $6,000.

Four citations have to do with a lack of training for workers assigned to deal with fires, according to the state report. The other two indicate that Hormel didn't verify that a metal detector was kept in working order and did not properly train workers assigned to reset circuit breakers.

The employees, all men, suffered burns on their hands, arms and faces in the Sept. 5 explosion in a rendering and grinding room.

Hormel was given 20 days to contest the citations. Company spokeswoman Julie Craven said the investigation is only in the preliminary stages and that it may take four to six weeks for a final result to be issued.