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Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Marek Brothers on
AGC Houston recently had the privilege of hosting the meetings for two outstanding organizations whose sole missions are to grow and sustain a skilled workforce.The Construction Career Collaborative (C3) launched 2019 with a strategic planning session that focused on finding the “tipping point” for commercial construction and its “all in… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
DISCIPLINARY POLICYAll companies, no matter what their business, have certain rules of behavior, which must be observe 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 disciplinary procedures. Therefore,… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Members of the Greater Houston chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) met Friday to learn from a panel of construction leaders how the industry has evolved over the years and discuss free enterprise challenges that lie ahead for the merit-shop construction industry regarding labor unions, regulations, PLAs, workforce shortages,… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 injuries do not occur because we failed to… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Scott Braddock and originally published on Construction Citizen.As the new year gets underway, the filmmakers at The Rational Middle are digging into more aspects of immigration policy that have proven politically difficult if not impossible thus far. Case in point: DACA, or the Deferred… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
ACCIDENTSIn 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, the supervisor will assist the… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
ATTENDANCERegular and on-time attendance is essential to the efficient operations of the Company, and is an essential function of every employee’s job. Excessive absenteeism and tardiness are not only inconvenient, they are also costly problems. While it is recognized that occasional illness or personal reasons cause unavoidable absence or… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Mark L. Johnson and originally published in AWCI's Construction Dimensions.The construction industry faces labor shortages in most parts of the country. As a result, many wall and ceiling companies are turning away work, not seeing enough qualified job applicants available for hire in order to take on… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Note to Supervisors: Read and prepare. Your objective is to demonstrate and prepare a scissor lift for the meeting to identify the hazards of an aerial lift. You have to make sure your employees are trained and aware of any hazards before they can use an aerial lift. The use of platforms is strictly prohibited and it would be considered a fall… read moreby 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 more