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CHELMSFORD -- UPS is citing increased safety measures at its facility off Brick Kiln Road, after the Health Department responded to complaints of inadequate precautions amid the coronavirus crisis.

Health Director Sue Rosa said the department held a virual meeting on April 3 with the company's health and safety manager, Kimberly Elliott, who followed up with an email, outlining steps to reduce risk at the facility.

In the follow up email, Elliott said said the steps include increasing the number of porters on staff from 10 to 20 cleaners, and continuing to acquire at least a six-month supply of cleaning supplies.

"While there were challenges at the beginning of the pandemic with acquiring supplies such as sanitizer and wipes due to a nationwide shortage, we now have the necessary amount of supplies for our employees," Elliott said.

In addition, Elliott said increased social-distancing measures have been implemented, including:

-- Limiting the number employees allowed in a space at any given time, including offices and break rooms.

-- Encouraging employees to remain socially distant when queuing to enter and exit the facility.

-- Ensuring that no more than one loader or unloader is working in a trailer at a time.

Rosa contacted the company's health and safety office after fielding employee complaints.

Union letter

An open letter from the Boston chapter of the Teamsters to its members accuses UPS of failing to uphold protocols for cleaning and sanitizing vehicles and equipment, making sanitizing agents adequately available, and other measures.

In the letter, dated March 30, Sean O'Brien, president of Teamsters Local 25 in Boston, said, "We believe the company's refusal to act is putting out [members] in harm's way." O'Brien said in the letter that three workers at the Brick Kiln Road facility tested positive for coronavirus.

Attempts to reach O'Brien directly were unsuccessful.

However, the company has not confirmed the claim, citing employee privacy concerns.

Additionally, O'Brien said in the letter that at least two dozen employees at the Chelmsford location have been quarantined by a physician.

O'Brien published the open letter on the Teamsters Local 25 Facebook page.

O'Brien said in the letter that the company did not respond to his previous correspondence raising safety concerns.

The facility is a so-called regional "hub" center for sorting and distribution. It is located on UPS Drive, a corporate way, at 87 Brick Kiln Road.

A UPS customer service center is located nearby, at 90 Brick Kiln Road.

Both are located close to the Billerica town line.

Seeking info

The company has posted coronavirus-related updates on its website.

In a statement to media partner WCVB Channel 5, a company spokesman said UPS has shared hygeine information with its workers, and increased cleaning practices.

"Our vehicles and equipment are cleaned and disinfected daily with an emphasis on the interiors, and frequent exterior touch points," the statement said. "We have distributed protective equipment to employees and we are replenishing our other supplies including gloves and cleaning materials regularly throughout our 2,200 facility U.S. network."

The statement also said, "UPS is not confirming employee cases for employee privacy reasons. If there is a need to disclose a positive case for public health reasons the disclosure will come from local health departments or other authorities."

The Eagle-Independent will post more updates as available.

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