COVID-19 Update 16th August 2021
The Andrews Government is moving metropolitan Melbourne into an extended lock-down in response to the Corona virus outbreak, strengthening current restrictions, including:
requiring all Victorians to wear a face covering when leaving home;
Victorian students to continue remote learning
the introduction of an 9pm-5am curfew until Sunday, 2nd September, 2021.
From a fire safety protection perspective, construction work, routine service and assessment activities, repair work, and some manufacturing is allowed to continue, albeit with some general restrictions and/or with a COVIDSafe Plan in place.
MES is continuing to operate as normal and we are always open and available for you. We are taking all the necessary steps to ensure our staff and your tenants remain safe and healthy, and we are adapting to the challenges that are presented to us on a daily basis. Our focus is maintaining the high level of service you expect from us and ensuring in accordance with the Building Regulations 2018, Part 12 regulation that all your properties remain compliant to avoid potential issues, especially with regard to Insurance and compliance.
For the sake of clarity, essential fire safety maintenance includes all work (including routine service activities and repairs) to ensure the reliability, integrity, functionality and performance of essential fire safety systems, equipment and life safety features in a building or structure that have been installed principally for the protection of life or property.
Responsibility to report
Even where work is allowed to continue, under the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety (COVID-19 Incident Notification) Regulations 2020 you must, by law, notify WorkSafe if:
an employer becomes aware that an employee or independent contractor (or their employees); or
a self-employed person
has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has attended the workplace within 14 days before the diagnosis. Failing to notify could result in a fine of up to $39,652 (240 penalty units) for an individual or $198,264 (1200 penalty units) for a body corporate.
Possible changes to MES services
Given that the MES office is located in Melbourne, the changes will have an impact upon how we conduct our business.
We remain committed to delivering all of our services as best we can under the circumstances, but recognise that there will be some limits to what we can do. As you, our customers have allowed us to be a part of your business for so long, we will stand alongside you now, and ensure your business/livelihood is as protected as it can be.
Please call us on 1300 857 664 if you have any questions.
COVID-19 Update 4th August 2020
Level 4 lock-down
The Andrews Government is moving metropolitan Melbourne into Level 4 lock-down in response to the Corona virus outbreak, extending Sunday's plans, which included:
requiring all Victorians to wear a face covering when leaving home;
Victorian students to commence remote learning from Wednesday, 5 August, 2020; and
the introduction of an 8pm-5am curfew until Sunday, 13 September, 2020.
Today's briefing identified a set of businesses that will continue to be unrestricted, such as supermarkets, banks, and petrol stations, and provided a summary of areas where restricted operations would still be allowed.
From a fire safety protection perspective, construction work, routine service and assessment activities, repair work, and some manufacturing is allowed to continue, albeit with some general restrictions and/or with a COVIDSafe Plan in place. Details of what work is permitted can be found here.
Responsibility to report
Even where work is allowed to continue, under the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety (COVID-19 Incident Notification) Regulations 2020 you must, by law, notify WorkSafe if:
an employer becomes aware that an employee or independent contractor (or their employees); or
a self-employed person
has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has attended the workplace within 14 days before the diagnosis. Failing to notify could result in a fine of up to $39,652 (240 penalty units) for an individual or $198,264 (1200 penalty units) for a body corporate.
Criteria for notifiable incidents can be found at: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/report-incident-criteria-notifiable-incidents, while the process for reporting a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis can be found at: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/report-confirmed-covid-19-diagnosis.
For more information please visit https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au or call 13 23 60.
Possible changes to MES services
Given that the MES office is located in Melbourne, the changes will have an impact upon how we conduct our business.
We remain committed to delivering all of our services as best we can under the circumstances, but recognise that there will be some limits to what we can do.
COVID-19 Update 23rd June 2020
We hope everyone continues to stay safe, those working are in safe employment and everyone is slowly getting back into some normality in this weird time we are going through.
At MES, we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure our staff and your tenants remain safe and healthy, and we are adapting to the challenges that are presented to us on a daily basis. Our focus is maintaining the high level of service you expect from us and ensuring in accordance with the Building Regulations 2018, Part 12 regulation that all your properties remain compliant to avoid potential issues, especially with regard to Insurance and compliance.
We are continuing to:
Remain at least 1.5 metres apart from other work colleagues and tenants/occupants at all times
All meetings held remotely such as via telephone or video conference
Where possible, employees attending company premises and not working from home are to maintain staggered breaks
Reduce the use of public transport
Avoid physical contact when greeting.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
Ensure to disinfect ourselves and our possessions at the end of every inspection
As recognised by the FPA the service we provide is an ESSENTIAL service and we will continue to deliver this essential service for you and your landlords during this difficult period, as you, our customers have allowed us to be a part of your business for so long, we will stand alongside you now, and ensure your business/livelihood is as protected as it can be.
COVID-19 Update 6th April 2020
MES is continuing to operate as normal and we are always open and available for you. We are still fully operational (on the ground and electronically). In accordance with Australian Building Regulations 2018, Australian Safety Standards (relating to ESM requirements), and the current applicable laws, it is still necessary to undertake all ESM inspections and equipment servicing. As recognised by the FPA (see below) the service we provide is an ESSENTIAL service and we will continue to deliver this essential service for you and your landlords during this difficult period.
The Association recognises that the maintenance of essential fire safety systems, equipment and features in buildings is critical to the safety of building occupants, property and the environment.
With this in mind, FPA Australia advocates for the continuity of essential fire safety maintenance by competent fire protection industry professionals across Australia where safe to do so.For the sake of clarity, essential fire safety maintenance includes all work (including routine service activities and repairs) to ensure the reliability, integrity, functionality and performance of essential fire safety systems, equipment and life safety features in a building or structure that have been installed principally for the protection of life or property.
Unless specifically referenced by Governments, FPA Australia believes that essential fire safety maintenance carried out by the fire protection industry is essential for the health and safety of occupants of buildings from the effect from fire.
source - http://www.fpaa.com.au/
At MES, we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure our staff and your tenants remain safe and healthy, and we are adapting to the challenges that are presented to us on a daily basis. Our focus is maintaining the high level of service you expect from us and ensuring in accordance with the Building Regulations 2018, Part 12 regulation that all your properties remain compliant to avoid potential issues, especially with regard to Insurance and compliance.
As you, our customers have allowed us to be a part of your business for so long, we will stand alongside you now, and ensure your business/livelihood is as protected as it can be.
COVID-19 Update 18th March 2020
MES would like to outline our response to the continually escalating Covid-19 outbreak. Our team met and decided to change some of our regular processes to ensure the safety of the community, our team and our families as well as our clients, whilst maintaining support to you our customers.
The measures we are implementing are temporary, but we feel necessary to protect our team and to do our part to minimise the spread of the virus in our community.
From Today:
· We are minimising non-essential interactions with the public and are taking precautionary measures such wearing masks and using disinfectant.
· After a long debate, whilst there is a risk, we decided to continue with our inspections, albeit with clear instructions for our team members to
1. Ensure no physical contact is ever made with tenants – remain at least 1 metre apart
2. Ensure to disinfect ourselves and our possessions at the end of every inspection
· We are:
minimising or cancelling all employee events and activities including attending conferences
remaining at least 1 metre apart from other work colleagues at all times
All meetings should be held remotely such as via telephone or video conference
Where possible, employees attending company premises and not working from home are to maintain staggered lunch breaks
Reduce the use of public transport
Avoid physical contact when greeting. Instead practise safe greetings such as a wave, nod or a bow
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
· Last but not least, we are reaching out to all our clients to provide the attached information, making sure they understand we are thinking of them, and to ask them to let us know if their circumstances change.