Chelmsford Businesses Hit With Coronavirus Safety Complaints

CHELMSFORD, MA — In Chelmsford, eight businesses have been the target of 10 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 two months after the online complaint form was started.

In Chelmsford, Choice Fitness has been the subject of two complaints, one logged on June 14 complaining the gym opened for indoor personal training before the governor announced Phase 2 Step 2, which allowed for that. Fishbones restaurant also received two complaints, concerned about disinfection and social distancing, but one also reporting the restaurant was not practicing social distancing, with having too many people inside.

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.

Dave Copeland contributed to this report.