In the Blog.

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon  WHY SAFETY  Why is accident prevention so important?  Do you view accident prevention as simply a way to avoid getting hurt?  Do you work safely just because you want to?  Perhaps you view accident prevention as a way of keeping the company happy or your supervisor off your back. Maybe you just do it because you have… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon   WAR ON FALLS SUSPENSION RECAP ZERO TOLERANCE  These zero tolerances mean that certain unsafe employee actions will automatically result in suspension from work. So that employees understand what these actions are that will result in suspension, we will recap the WAR ON FALLS safety violations that will result in a… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon  Suicide Prevention  Suicide is a leading cause of death among working-age adults in the United States. It deeply impacts workers, families, and communities. Fortunately, like other workplace fatalities, suicides can be prevented. Below are 5 things to know about preventing suicide 1. Be AwareEveryone can help prevent suicide.… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon SIGNS & BARRICADES A barricade is a portable or fixed device with three rails and appropriate markings. It is used to control traffic by closing, restricting, or delineating all or a portion of the right-of-way. Barricades are physical obstructions such as walls, guardrails, screens, tapes, or cones intended to warn and limit access to a… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon  EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK PART III  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… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon  Stay Hydrated Water The natural choice for hydration is water. It hydrates better than any other liquid, both before and during work. Water tends to be less expensive and more available than any other drink. You need to drink 4-6 ounces of water for every 15-20 minutes of work. That can add up to a lot of water! Water is the best,… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon   EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK PART II  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. … read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon HAZARD ANALYSIS WORKING AROUND SPRINKLERS OR ELECTRICAL AREAS  Notice to Supervisors: Read and prepare for safety meeting. Make sure all employees understand the importance of following our Hazard Analysis and the procedures to work around sprinkler and electrical areas.  Electricity has long been recognized as a… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon Employee HandbookPART I ATTENDANCE Regular and on-time attendance is essential to the efficient operations of the Company and is an essential function of every employee’s job. Excessive absenteeism, tardiness, or early departures are not only inconvenient, but they are also costly problems. While it is recognized that occasional illness… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon   FLOOR OPENINGS  Safely covering a floor opening with a piece of plywood requires more than just laying down the material over the hole, or even nailing it down.  Total on-the-job safety means a total job of eliminating a hazard.  Half a job or inadequate or incomplete jobs of covering hole hazards can result… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon WORKPLACE DISTRACTION  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… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon  CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?    Noise is one of the most common health problems in workplaces today. Right now, about 30 million workers are exposed to high noise levels.  If you’re one of those workers, you may be losing some of your hearing. And you might not realize it until it’s too late!!!  Most of… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon SEVERE WEATHER WHY TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER? Actually, we have no control over rain, snow, sleet, wind, lightning or sunshine. But we can control what happens on our job as a result of the elements. Some of the biggest problems in construction jobs are caused by wind and lightning. Wind probably causes the most accidents; lightning can be… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon THE HEAT  If you are not sweating or you have not urinated, is it a sign of dehydration.  Did you know that after a holiday weekend, most people who consume alcohol are more exposed to dehydration? Drinking alcoholic beverages in hot weather can have serious consequences. During extreme heat, we sweat more, and drinking… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon WAR ON FALLS 3 KEYS TO WORK SAFE ON LADDERSGrab 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. SELECTIONBe sure the ladder… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon Heat Stress Hot weather causes more fatalities than any other weather-related source.  Heat waves rarely are given adequate attention but in fact, they claim more lives each year than floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. Heat waves are a silent killer.  Heatstroke also affects both genders equally. However, because many men… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon Open enrollment is closing on June 4, 2024. You still have time to evaluate the benefit choices that are available to you by MyMAREK.  If you do not complete your enrollment, your coverage elections will remain the same, except for contributions to your Medical Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, or Health… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon War on FallsHow to Report an Accident  How long you work for us is based on how you safely perform your job and meet the production expectations of your supervisor.  Every Front Line Supervisor is responsible for timely reporting of all work-related injuries, accidents and fall exposures. To help properly carry out his duties,… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon Open Enrollment is here!  May 09 – June 04. Make sure to log in to your MyMarek to review: Your elections Update people to cover & emergency contacts Add dependent SSNs Update beneficiaries for Life Insurance plans Update phone numbers and addresses  Carelessness Causes Accidents  Note to… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon    O.S.H.A. identifies falls as one of the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. Therefore, employees must be trained to recognize fall exposures and have the authority to take corrective actions.  We have all heard the expression - ‘it is not the fall that hurts but the sudden stop at the end’.… read more