Andover Employers Hit With Coronavirus Safety Complaints

ANDOVER, MA — Four Andover businesses have been the target of complaints filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office for failing to protect workers and customers from the coronavirus.

The office began accepting complaints from an online portal on May 20. Statewide, more than 1,300 complaints have been filed in the nine weeks since the online complaint form was launched.

In Andover, four companies have been the target of five complaints. New England Tractor Trailer, Harris Environmental Systems and Salon Forza have been the target of complaints regarding cleaning.

New England Tractor Trailer received two complaints, with personal protective equipment and social distancing also being named as concerns. The Salon Forza complaint also refers to retaliation and social distancing.

Harris Environmental Systems received a long complaint, including an extended write-in entry: "Operating at nearly full capacity (well over 25%), not a single communication made to employees about any plans, trainings, safety precautions, etc. Employees with desk jobs required to come in rather than working remotely, out-of-state bosses and employees commuting in every day with a total disregard for MA laws surrounding COVID, no cleaning protocols in place, no display of any posters or forms anywhere."

Massachusetts School of Law was the target of a complaint regarding "requiring symptomatic employees to work" among other issues.

You can view all the complaints filed through July 20 on this spreadsheet.

In most instances, the AG's Office doesn't have enforcement authority on health and safety issues. OSHA, the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards and, in some cases, local authorities, are charged with enforcement.

But the AG's Fair Labor Division has been responding to complaints by letting consumers and workers know their rights, reaching out to employers targeted in complaints and making referrals to other local, state and federal agencies.

Safety concerns can be reported by using the online portal or by calling AG's Fair Labor Hotline at 617-727-3465.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.