by Jorge Vazquez on Apr 7, 2021
Notice to supervisors: If you are not using stilts on your job, make sure you mention the War on Falls for ladders, lifts, scaffolds, guardrails, and holes. Make sure you also mention the two-day suspension for any fall exposure.
PROJECT SAFE STATES:
Only those employees who have been certified under the company’s stilt policy... read more
by Marek Brothers on Apr 1, 2021
John L., Bill, & Ralph Marek founded the Marek Family of Companies with a strong commitment to its employees and their families. The MAREK tradition of developing and nurturing employees provides a unique opportunity for individuals looking for a career in the construction industry. For this reason, the MAREK Scholarship was established... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Mar 31, 2021
Mandatory Topic: Notice to Supervisors: Read and prepare for demonstration of Web-Tex scaffolds. Make sure all employees understand the importance of following our safe scaffold procedures for the Web-Tex system.
Web-Tex Scaffold Safety
At the Marek Family of Companies we thrive on having safe equipment. Keep in mind that equipment is only as... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Mar 24, 2021
When was the last time you saw someone "on the job" also on their phone? In a single day a large number of employees are checking their phones:
Reading and typing text messages while trying to operate power tools
Updating social platforms with their latest selfies and posting unsafe condition of their... read more
by Dan Schnippert on Mar 17, 2021
It is important for construction firms and project owners to understand how COVID-19 has impacted and continues to affect the availability and prices of construction materials and supplies. Virus outbreaks and lockdowns have inhibited the manufacturing and transportation of supplies, while a booming residential construction market has increased... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Mar 17, 2021
DISCIPLINARY POLICY
All companies, no matter what their business, have certain rules of behavior, which must be observed to ensure a productive, safe operation. The Marek Companies are no exception. For the welfare of all of us who work together on a day-to-day basis, certain actions are serious enough to warrant disciplinary procedures.... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Mar 10, 2021
Grab a ladder. Stand it up and climb. So simple anyone can do it, right?
But if it really were all that simple, 130,000 people wouldn’t get hurt on ladders each year, would they?
Most ladder accidents are caused by improper selection, setup or use, not defects.
SELECTION
Be sure the ladder you select is strong enough to support your weight and... read more
by Mike Holland on Mar 10, 2021
MAREK is blessed to have a super-strong team of women across our offices, in many roles, and growing every day. The resiliency, leadership, and determination shown by the women at MAREK is what makes us have hope that our future is bright, and made brighter by their contribution, illustrating the Strength From Within.
Wherever you work, in... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Mar 4, 2021
While recent news across the country might be confusing on the use of face mask or not, MAREK’s standard of care will not change at this time. Continue to wear your face covering over your nose and mouth and follow other guidelines.
For example,
On jobsites, wear a face covering over your nose and mouth. If you are performing a task... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Feb 25, 2021
ACCIDENTS
In the event an employee is involved in an accident or sustains an injury while on the job, they must report it to their supervisor immediately regardless of its severity. First aid supplies are normally maintained at jobsites to take care of certain minor injuries. When medical attention is warranted, the supervisor will assist the... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Feb 18, 2021
As the weather becomes “frightful” during winter months, construction workers who must brave the outdoor conditions face the occupational hazard of exposure to the cold. You need to be especially mindful of the weather, its effects on the body, and proper prevention techniques.
Environmental conditions
The following four environmental conditions... read more
by Stan Marek on Feb 3, 2021
Fresh from his swearing in on Inauguration Day, President Joe Biden went to the White House and issued a long-overdue proposal for reforming the broken U.S. immigration system. The echoes of the fireworks that evening had barely faded before Republicans began raising objections to it.
Among other things, the plan would create an eight-year path ... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Feb 3, 2021
Most people don’t think much about their feet, until a foot begins to hurt. Damage to even one bone, ligament, or muscle in the foot can be very painful and make it difficult or impossible for you to keep on your feet and do your job. Unfortunately, statistics tell us that work related foot injuries are common.
Foot injuries can result from... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Jan 28, 2021
Sprains and strains continue to be one of the highest types of injuries within our company. By following a few simple rules, many of these injuries can be avoided or their severity greatly reduced. Medical evidence has shown that performing warm-up exercises before work and after breaks reduces strain and sprain type injuries.These rules are:Warm... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Jan 21, 2021
Let's take a quick test. How many basic senses do we have at birth? Name them. Is it one.... two.... four? I'm sure we all agree the answer is FIVE. These five senses are SIGHT, HEARING, TASTE, TOUCH and SMELL.
If you were faced with sacrificing four of these five basic senses, which ones would you keep? Most people would keep their sense of... read more
by Marek Brothers on Jan 13, 2021
The following article was authored by Charles Frantes and originally published on TexasGOPVote.com.
Business leaders and immigration experts explained the needs for and benefits of creating a policy to ID and Tax unauthorized immigrants during the latest episode of the Rational Middle of Immigration Docuseries: Finding Solutions – The ID and Tax... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Jan 13, 2021
Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to such dangers as electrical shock, electrocution, fires and explosions. However when we talk about fires, is also important to mention that sprinkler systems are installed in projects to prevent fire breakouts inside buildings, but when these lines with high-... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Jan 6, 2021
When we do accident investigations, a lot of times we’ll find injuries can be attributed to some type of distraction.
Although it may not be possible to eliminate distractions, experts say steps can be taken to minimize them and recognize when they occur.
Different types of distractions
When people are distracted, they are not paying attention... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Dec 30, 2020
MAREK hopes you had a great holiday season with your loved ones. Is now time to look at our road ahead and is important to remember that safety is our top priority. We need to remember that we are not getting any younger and that an injury can not only put us out of work but can also jeopardize your family’s wellbeing.
In fact, according to the... read more
by Jorge Vazquez on Dec 23, 2020
Do you often need to make strange or awkward movements to get your work done? Long reaches, twists, bends and stretches put your shoulders, back and elbows in uncomfortable and unnatural positions. These postures can injure your nerves and even blood vessels that supply your muscle.
Merely reaching behind you or above your head can put your body... read more
