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Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Jorge Vazquez on
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 basic rules governing the use of hand… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Center for Houston’s Future hosted a conversation with Loren Steffy about his new book with Stan Marek, Deconstructed: An Insider’s View of Illegal Immigration and the Building Trades.
Illegal immigration is one of the most challenging issues facing America. Histrionics rule the day, and the debate over what to do about the estimated eleven… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Loren C. Steffy and originally published in the Houston Chronicle.
On a Monday morning in 2009, the phone chirped on Stan Marek’s desk, and he snapped up the receiver. On the other end, the front-desk receptionist sounded nervous. Half a dozen men in dark windbreakers had filed into the lobby moments… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Note to Supervisors: Read and prepare. Your objective is to point out the dangers of the most common – AND PREVENTABLE – causes of serious accidents. Explain practices to help avoid these types of accidents. You should hold this meeting on the floor so you can move around and point out and identify possible slip, trip and fall hazards.
We have… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Charles Frantes.
On a recent Rational Middle podcast, Executive Producer Loren Steffy spoke with Mark Erlich, a Wertheim Fellow of Research on Misclassification and the Underground Economy at the Harvard Law School and former union leader. They examined payroll fraud and worker misclassification in the… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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; lightning can be deadly.WATCH OUT FOR… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Please join Center for Houston’s Future on Wednesday, September 9, for a conversation with Loren Steffy about his new book with Stan Marek, Deconstructed: An Insider’s View of Illegal Immigration and the Building Trades.
Illegal immigration is one of the most challenging issues facing America. Histrionics rule the day, and debate… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 make things downright messy. Steel gets slippery, equipment gets stuck, and workers get wet. By covering equipment, materials, tools, supplies and people, rain doesn’t have a chance to do as… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
At the Marek Family of Companies we take pride on 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 protect their employees and get the work done more… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 his duties, today we are reviewing with all employees, the… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
There are several dangers on job sites simple 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 poor housekeeping creates an unsafe… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Angela Robbins and originally published on Construction Career Collaborative.
I love school. Those closest to me might even say it is one of my favorite places. Schools are full of potential, dreams, and hope for the future. They are alive with possibility. They represent the pipeline of future… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 the fact that… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Tools and equipment include anything from 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 provides the necessary equipment… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
While CDC recognizes that wearing cloth face coverings may not be possible in every situation, we would like to point out a few examples on how to continue using your face covering in a safe manner.
For example,
On jobsites, wear a face covering over your nose and mouth. If you are performing a task requiring a respirator, face shield, or… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
In any company, whether differences among members are great or small, functioning as a team is critical to success.
In today’s meeting, we want to focus on behaviors that violate these principles in the worst way. We are speaking of verbal and physical confrontations, more commonly known as "having words” and fighting.
Our company’s response to… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
O.S.H.A. identifies falls as one of the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. This is why employees must be trained to recognize fall exposures and have the authority to take corrective actions.
I. We have all heard the expression - ‘it’s not the fall that’s hurts but the sudden stop at the end’. Think of a fall as “...a… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 minor abrasions to concussions, blindness, or death.… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Note to Supervisors: Read and prepare. Your objective is to point out the dangers of the most common – AND PREVENTABLE – causes of serious accidents. Explain practices to help avoid these types of accidents. You should hold this meeting on the floor so you can move around and point out and identify possible slip, trip and fall hazards.
We have… read moreby Stan Marek on
With the start of hurricane season, a reporter called to ask if we have the labor to rebuild from a major storm. My answer was immediate: No. Not even close. We still haven’t recovered from the last major storm — Harvey — because of a severe labor shortage in construction.
Much has happened in the ensuing three years that has made the labor… read more