In the Blog.

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 us take hearing for granted. When we go home at… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon NOTE: Open enrollment is closing on June 2, 2023. You still have time to evaluate your benefit choices that are available to you by MAREK. 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 Shortcuts All of us have exposed ourselves to possible injury by taking shortcuts when a few extra seconds would have meant doing something the safe way. We did this as children when we jumped the fence instead of using the gate. We do it today when we cross streets between intersections instead of at corners. Many people show disregard for… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon HOUSEKEEPING AND TRASH REMOVAL There are several dangers on job sites simply because of the nature of construction work. When the natural hazards found on construction jobs sites are compounded with clutter and debris, the hazard level increases and the potential for an accident or an injury substantially increases. A construction site with… read more

by Marek Brothers on

Marek Firestopping 2 Fundamentals of Building Trades - Fireproofing, Firestopping and Building Thermal Insulation October 9, 2023 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT) AGC Houston, 3825 DACOMA, Houston, TX, 77092   Description The Fundamentals of Building Trades – Fireproofing, Firestopping and Building Thermal course is a one-session, in person program designed to… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon NOTE: Open Enrollment is open! May 10 – June 02. 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 Web-Tex Scaffold Safety At the Marek Family of… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon ATTN: Open Enrollment starts May 10 and ends June 2, 2023. There will be Virtual and in-person meetings this year. Be sure to join one of the meetings to get all information about the upcoming new plan year!   Houston - In-Person Meeting May 10 at 9:00am – English & Spanish May 10 at 4:00pm – English & Spanish 2115 Judiway… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon WEAR EYE PROTECTION PROPERLY We have talked about eye protection many times in the past. There is no question how fragile our eyes are and how important it is to protect them. We all know when to wear eye protection on the job, but today we want to talk about other eye injuries that occur and how to prevent them. The majority of eye… read more

by Marek Brothers on

Toolbox Talk Icon NOTE: Open Enrollment period starts May 10 and ends June 2, 2023. All benefits related information and actions will take place in MyMAREK. NEW: Medical, Vision, and Dental plans are moving to Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX . If you do not complete your enrollment, your coverage elections will remain the same, except for FSA, Dependent… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Tools and equipment include anything like ladders, scaffolds, utility knifes, extension cords, hammer, etc. They seem simple, but tools and equipment can be hazardous on the jobsite or anywhere they are being use. Their greatest hazards are misuse and improper maintenance. Therefore, the Marek Family of Companies… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon The “War on Falls” was declared with only one thing in mind – to prevent injuries by eliminating fall exposures. Zero tolerance and suspensions are merely tools to deal with a violation after it occurs. The ultimate goal is eliminating the exposure in the first place. That can only be accomplished by each one of us understanding what is… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon SILICA DUST AWARENESS Crystalline silica is a common mineral in the earth's crust and is found in many types of rock including sand, quartz, and granite. Silica is present in both work and non-work environments, and exposure to crystalline silica dust has long been known to cause a disease called silicosis. When you inhale crystalline… read more

by Marek Brothers on

Marek Firestopping Team In new construction, MAREK is able to coordinate with MEP trade partners to provide a comprehensive penetration and joint firestop package, using single source manufactured products as is often required per project specifications. On existing buildings, MAREK can provide an extensive survey of the life safety drawings in… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET 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… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon MATERIAL HANDLING AND HAND SAFETY Sharp edges and puncture hazards When you are handling metal, remember the sharp rolled edges. Every employee gets relaxed around metal: when you see your co-workers do this, remind them about the sharp edges. Many hand lacerations are caused by carelessness - losing your grip and not wearing gloves (PPE… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon WAR ON FALLS HOW 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 properly carry out duties, today we are… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon Line of Fire Safety Talk The term “line of fire” is very common when talking about the hazards of a work task. Depending on the work being completed, there may be many different lines of fire or there could be very few. It is important to understand the “line of fire” and how to… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon WAR ON FALLS STILTS PROJECT SAFE STATES: Only those employees who have been certified under the company’s stilt policy will be allowed to use stilts. STILTS POLICY STATES: Employees shall always use a stable surface, scaffold, material stack, or wall for support when getting on or off stilts. When mounting stilts, the top leg strap first… 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. When medical attention is warranted,… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Toolbox Talk Icon Notice to Supervisors: Mandatory Demonstration requires a Minimum of 20 minutes to effectively cover topic. Sprains and Strains 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… read more