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 requires a total job of eliminating hazards. A half or incomplete job of covering risks associated with floor openings can result in… read more
UTILITY KNIFE SAFETY
There’s one hand tool that demands your respect over many others in the workplace, a tool that can cut you to the bone in an instant: the utility knife. Many workers use utility knives to cut drywall, ceiling tile, strapping, puncture shrink-wrap, and open packaging. But, one wrong move and these blades… read more
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 for working around sprinkler and electrical areas.… read more
Originally published on rationalmiddle.com
As I drove to work recently, the top story on the news was the housing shortage. Nationwide, demand exceeds supply by 3.8 million homes, and nowhere is that shortage more acute than in Houston. Houses go on the market and draw multiple offers almost immediately, which can be discouraging for… read more
SAFE BEFORE THE STORM
RAIN CAN RUIN A JOB
Rain may be good for the farmer, but it can turn the jobsite into a giant mud pie. The rain can ruin materials and supplies and generally makes things downright messy. Steel gets slippery, equipment gets stuck, and workers get wet. By covering equipment, materials, tools, supplies and people, rain doesn’t… read more
WAR ON FALLS
LADDER SAFETY
At the Marek Family of Companies we take pride in everything we do. Our type of work is often performed at heights, and working at heights can be hazardous. Falls rank as the chief cause of death on the construction jobsite. That’s why the Marek Family of Companies is always looking for ways to… read more
HAND TOOLS SAFETY
Of all the equipment placed at our disposal, common hand tools, which we take for granted, are the most useful and the most often abused.
A recent review of construction injuries reveals quite a number of minor accidents involving the use of hand tools. To counteract this trend, it would be wise to review the… read more
Mandatory Topic:
Heat Stress
Hot weather causes more fatalities than any other weather-related source. Heat waves are rarely 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… read more
Mandatory Topic:
Harassment/Discrimination
At MAREK, we rely on our employees to work as teams to build our jobs, and without teamwork we would not be able to accomplish any of our goals. The teams that we have are generally comprised of a very diverse group, be it different trades, races,… read more
I am choosing to publicly respond to your press release from July 6, 2021 because there are 204,000 Dreamers brought as children without proper documentation by their parents living in Texas. Their lives hang in the balance.
Authored by Pat Kiley and originally published by Construction Citizen.
The Houston Construction Industry is made up of many different people. Those who prosper are authentic, real people who make commitments, work hard to honor them, appreciate others and stay humble when they succeed.
Brianna Wright, the beloved Executive Director of the… read more
WAR ON FALLS
SUSPENSION RECAP
ZERO TOLERANCE
This zero tolerance means that certain unsafe employee actions will automatically result in suspension from work. So that employees understand what these actions that will result in suspension are, we will recap the WAR ON FALLS safety violations that will result in a minimum two-… read more
Marek Brothers Systems Inc., a trusted staple of Houston’s construction community, has been entrusted with the noble task of constructing such an innovative means of combating COVID-19 and augmenting existing capacity.
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 on construction jobs are caused by wind and lightning. Wind probably causes the most accidents;… read more
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… read more
In January, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule that detailed how a business was to determine a worker’s employment status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This rule was set to go into effect on May 7, 2021, but at the last moment, the Biden Administration pulled back, ensuring no change to how businesses and the… read more
: Explain to your employees in your own words the importance of being safe for their families and friends.
DISTRACTIONS
Accidents occur for many reasons. In most jobsites people tend to look for "things" or “people” to blame when an accident happens, because it's easier than looking for "root causes… read more
NOTE:
• We recommend employees follow best practices and CDC/OSHA guidance in choosing when to wear a face covering. Masks will no longer be required in most cases.
As always, we will follow safety guidelines specific to our location or worksite. If a mask is required at a particular… read more
Mandatory Topic:
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.… read more
Struck-By
Falling/Flying Objects
You are at risk from falling objects when you are beneath equipment, scaffolds, etc., or where overhead work is being performed. There is a danger from flying objects when power tools, or activities like pushing, pulling, or prying, may cause objects to become airborne. Injuries can range from… read more