WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
Company aims to keep small businesses trading
FRASER WILSON
A specialist East Kilbride company are hoping to help keep small businesses trading amidst the coronavirus epidemic.
Damada Group are an asbestos removal and demolition contractor based on Wilson Place in the town.
They usually specialise in ensuring the safety of redevelopment sits and demolition of old buildings where asbestos is present.
But, since the outbreak of COVID-19, they have seen a huge increase in demand from individuals and companies looking for deep cleaning services in both commercial and domestic premises.
Now the managing director wants to help companies so they don’t lose out during what looks set to be a difficult period for smaller businesses.
Darroch McCartney told the News: “As a small business ourselves, uncertainty in trading can be a really difficult thing to manage.
“Not all small businesses can organise for people to work from home, so it could be the case that if they can’t work in the office, then work just doesn’t get done.
“That means contracts don’t get fulfilled, deliveries don’t get made, and workers and businesses start to suffer.
“What we want to primarily say is that there is another option to keep yourself in the officer, rather than sending staff home.”
Dealing with asbestos requires protective equipment and clothing, enabling the safe removal and containment of the substance with contaminating the immediate environment and air.
If it breaks down into microscopically thin fibers, asbestos can become lodged in the lung, with the fibres linked to several serious diseases, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Darroch added: “There is a lot of crossover between services, as the thorough and methodical approach to environmental cleaning for asbestos is similar to the processes to be followed as part of a deep clean.
“Given the highly regulated nature of the asbestos industry, we must have robust risk assessments and method statements in place in addition to the issue of highly protective PPE/RPE equipment, as well as industrial cleaning agents, and dry heat cleaners.
“Clearly we do not wish to capitalise on the arrival of a serious and unwelcome virus, however, we are aware many smaller companies do not have the luxury of working from home to keep the business moving.
“As a result we are keen to find a way to help our clients support their own network throughout the uncertain period to come.”
Darroch says his staff can carry out services on industrial, commercial and domestic spaces, giving people “peace of mind” that they can safely use the space.