CHARLES CITY (AP) -- Pharmaceutical company Cambrex Corp. has contested state fines for alleged safety violations for a fire and explosion at its plant in Charles City last fall.

The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Bureau issued a citation against Cambrex following an inspection after the Oct. 26 fire that severely burned one worker. Five other people were treated for smoke inhalation.

The citation lists four violations with fines that could total more than $15,000.

Joe Nettleton, vice president of operations and site manager at the plant, said Cambrex is contesting the violations listed in the citation.

"In my view it's the next step in our discussion with the agency," Nettleton said.

The alleged violations include:

Personal protective equipment designated by the employer did not appropriately protect against the fire and explosion hazards.

Employees involved in the emergency response and cleanup had not been trained to the first responder operations level and the hazardous materials technician level and were instructed to pick up contaminated debris and re-enter the building, search for victims and secure any processes still running.

The employer did not inform representatives of outside employers of all chemical hazards present and all precautionary measures necessary to safely enter the areas affected by the explosion.

The plant, which has about 200 employees, makes chemicals for use in animal feed additives and human pharmaceuticals, the company's Web site said.