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Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Jorge Vazquez on Dec 26, 2022
COLD WEATHER SAFETY
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 conditions
The following… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Dec 16, 2022
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 moreby Jorge Vazquez on Dec 12, 2022
Web-Tex Scaffold Safety
At the Marek Family of Companies we thrive on having safe equipment. Keep in mind that equipment is only as safe as the people who use it are. We have two sizes of the Web-Tex scaffolds: 6’ and 8’. You should use the smallest size possible to reach your work.
Today you will discuss the proper uses for a Web-Tex… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Nov 26, 2022
SAFE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Nov 18, 2022
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 conditions
The following four environmental… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Nov 11, 2022
Carelessness Causes Accidents
Note to Supervisors: Read and prepare for meeting by looking over your jobsite and how your personnel are approaching their jobs. Carelessness is not acceptable.
Project Safe states quite simply:
Employee Basic Safety Rules, Safe Work Habits: “Careless disregard for the safety of other employees will not… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Nov 4, 2022
FIGHTING
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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Oct 28, 2022
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 been told to.
Of… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Oct 20, 2022
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 minor… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Oct 13, 2022
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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Oct 10, 2022
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 moreby Jorge Vazquez on Sep 30, 2022
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 make things downright messy. Steel gets slippery, equipment gets stuck, and workers get wet. By covering equipment, materials, tools, supplies and people, rain… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Sep 23, 2022
WAR ON FALLS
SUSPENSION RECAP
ZERO TOLERANCE
These zero tolerances 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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Sep 16, 2022
POWDER-ACTUATED TOOL SAFETY
Mandatory Topic: Read, Be Prepared and Demonstrate to All Employees
Attention All Foremen: You will demonstrate a powder-actuated tool to all your employees today. Safe production practices need to be covered in this meeting. You may choose to demonstrate multiple tools with live firing.
Powder actuated… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Sep 11, 2022
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 Aware
Everyone can help prevent suicide.Mental… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Sep 2, 2022
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. An inadequate or incomplete job of covering ahole in the floor occured. Why did it happen?
Although originally… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Aug 29, 2022
EXTENSION CORDS
Even a simple extension cords needs to be looked after. It’s a shock or fire hazard when deteriorated, worn-out or used improperly.
Three-wire cords are for outdoor appliances and electric power tools. The third wire is a ground. Never plug these cords into an ungrounded electrical outlet.
Don’t disconnect an extension… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Aug 19, 2022
Personal Safety Measures
The Marek Family of Companies is responsible for training you in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and of the safety hazards applicable to your workplace.
However, you are also an important player in jobsite safety and security. The simplest of tasks, such as placing trash where it belongs,… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Aug 12, 2022
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 serious workplace hazard… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on Aug 6, 2022
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKPART III
DISCIPLINARY POLICY
All companies, no matter what their business, have certain rules of behavior that 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 actions are serious enough to warrant… read more