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Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Jorge Vazquez on
MAREK hopes you had a great holiday season with your love 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 well being.In fact, according to the… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Sharp edges and puncture hazardsWhen 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) while handling metal framing, trash and… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 moreby Marek Brothers on
Chuck Gremillion, C3 executive director, announced that Texas Mutual Insurance Company, the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance, has awarded a $100,000 grant to C3 to help strengthen craft training programs throughout the Houston region.Gremillion said, “We are honored to partner with Texas Mutual and to have their support… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
At MAREK we care for our employees. Safety is a major role in everybody’s life and doing the right thing for the right reason is the key to our success. We, as a group of employees, must focus on safety and prevention by practicing problem identification and problem solving. To work at MAREK you must care about safety by paying attention to and… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 conditionsThe following four environmental conditions are… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
This zero tolerance means 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 minimum two-day suspension.LADDERSStanding on the top or first step of a… read moreby Mike Holland on
On November 15th, I will be sleeping on the street along with more than 80 Houston business leaders. Not only will I be sleeping on the street, but we will be driving around offering support and food for those that often get brushed aside. This event raises awareness, and funds that give our homeless youth some hope.For more information on… read moreby Marek Brothers on
In the October 2018 issue of Construction Dimensions, the national publication of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI), Mike Holland, COO of Houston-based MAREK and one of our authors, was quoted along with a group of national specialty contractors about the causes and possible solutions to the ongoing skilled labor shortages… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
The Marek Family of Companies wants to take this opportunity to give thanks to the most important part of our business – YOU. We hope that you and your family have had a safe and healthy year. We hope you can spend these holidays with family and be able to give thanks for what you have.All of us at Marek can be thankful for another year. We want… read moreby Stan Marek on
News of the caravan of migrants coming up from Central America toward the United States has once again put the subject of undocumented immigration front and center just as voters head to the polls across Texas and the nation.President Donald Trump’s hardline stance may drive his base to the polls, but even those folks want a long-term solution —… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are devices designed to prevent accidental electric shock and electrocution by preventing ground faults. They also protect against electrical fires, tool/appliance overheating, and destruction of wire insulation. GFCI’s are required by building code in “wet” locations like kitchens, bathrooms and… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Recently Stan Marek, CEO of the MAREK, a construction company with headquarters in Houston and branch offices in Atlanta, Austin, DFW, and San Antonio, was interviewed by Andy Uhler for National Public Radio’s Marketplace about the viability of the recently-filed E-Verify System Act of 2018.by 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 to… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
We have all experienced slipping, tripping, stumbling or falling. Usually the only result is that you feel silly, embarrassed, and perhaps got a scrape or bruise. But falls kill 1,200 people at work a year. They are the biggest cause of accidental death in the workplace. More than 33,000 people are disabled every year from falling down stairs,… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following is excerpted from an article by Ulf Wolf, which was originally published in Construction Dimensions, a monthly publication by the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry. The bad news: Recently, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, the number of open U.S. construction sector jobs came in at 243… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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."Failure to Pre-Plan the Work:There is a lot of talk today about Job Hazard Analysis. JHA's are an effective way to figure out the smartest ways to work safely and… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
ANSI and OSHA do not reference a maximum service life for synthetic fiber products. ANSI and OSHA standards require that the user remove the equipment from service if it has been subject to the forces of arresting a fall. ANSI A10.32-2012 does not specify a 5-year harness and lanyard service life. It states that "fall protection equipment shall be… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
At MAREK we expect everyone to report unsafe conditions and actions, as stated in PROJECT SAFE. A near miss is always considered an unsafe condition that needs immediate correction. Close calls or near misses are all too common in the workplace. Why talk about incidents that didn’t happen? The following story might make it a little easier to… read more