Hey Guys,
My partner runs a small business. She has been in operation for just over 2 years. Once a year a company by the name of Australian Essential Services Group (AESG - aesg.com.au) drops in announced & undertakes a "Fire Safety inspection". Literally 5 minutes later there out the door & a week later the Agent sends an invoice for there services for a few hundred dollars.
Recently just got a phone call from AESG (First time as they usually just drop in) to undertake this inspection once again. Prior to the call I already started looking into what they refer to as the ESM report. The below URL refers to the relevant (I believe its relevant) PDF from the vba.vic.gov.au website.
https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/99220…
From reading this (As well as cross referencing this with the report provided previously from AESG) my understanding is that the annual checks that are relevant on the premise are
Emergency lighting and/or exit signs
Fire extinguisher(s)
Exit doors, simple opening in an emergency
Paths of travel to exits
Certificate of occupancy
Above simply had a YES or NO in the report for each category.
Reading this, it seems to imply that a "competent person" is able to undertake that above & is able to produce the logbook/report. It also states there are no hard and fast rules of what the logbook should entail, but they do give an example as per appendix A in the PDF.
- The Shop is a small retail front. Partner is operating a Traditional Thai Massage Business from it.
When I asked directly to AESG "Can I do this myself". They replied you can't as you need to produce the ESM report.
I was really hoping someone who has run into this same type of requirement is able to advise whether or not I can do this report myself.
I run a small business, and I'm under the impression that this changed several years ago and it is now the landlord's responsibility to pay for this even if it is contained in the lease that predates the law change. (Most tenants aren't aware or haven't been made aware of the change).
But no I don't think you can do it yourself.