News + Blog + Social
Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Jorge Vazquez on
At MAREK 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 MAREK is always looking for ways to protect their employees and get the work done more efficiently.Accidents involving ladders are usually… 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
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
PROJECT SAFE STATES:Only those employees who have been certified under the company’s stilt policy will be allowed to use stilts.STILTS POLICY STATES:Employees shall always use a ladder, scaffold, material stack, or wall for support when getting on or off stilts. When mounting stilts, the top leg strap first will be buckled first. When dismounting… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Originally published on Construction Citizen and authored by Scott Braddock.Texas construction executives told state lawmakers this past week that there is an urgent need for more legal workers in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, a storm that worsened an already acute labor shortage along the Gulf Coast. The CEOs of various companies were… read moreby Shannon Zweifel on
MAREK is one of over 30 sponsor companies who believes and invests in providing insight into the construction industry and our future through ACE Mentor. On December 2, MAREK hosted high school students and a multitude of volunteers to Build it Forward. The concept behind the event is to allow students themselves to fundraise for ACE 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 Marek Brothers on
“What part of illegal don’t you understand?” is a common retort in discussions of what should be done about undocumented workers in industries such as construction. The answer isn’t as clear cut as it seems.by Jorge Vazquez on
A good safety culture with a free injury environment is one that has an effective way of communicating, so at Marek we begin looking for a solution to help all of our employees give their feedback, keep a consistent message between the office and the field and allow everyone to access training records, inspections forms, and safety observations… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The fact that President Donald Trump’s administration is cracking down on unauthorized immigrants in the wake of Hurricane Harvey is already making it much harder to rebuild portions of the Gulf Coast. That’s according to an Associated Press report out this week that suggests unauthorized workers are badly needed in the rebuilding effort while… 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
PROJECT SAFE STATES:Only those employees who have been certified under the company’s stilt policy will be allowed to use stilts.STILTS POLICY STATES:Employees shall always use a ladder, scaffold, material stack, or wall for support when getting on or off stilts. When mounting stilts, the top leg strap first will be buckled first. When dismounting… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Sprains and strains continue to be one of the highest types of injuries within our company. By following a few simple rules, many of these injuries can be avoided or their severity greatly reduced. Medical evidence has shown that performing warm-up exercises before work and after breaks reduces strain and sprain type injuries.These rules are:Warm… read moreby Stan Marek on
We have been working with the Center for Houston’s Future to produce and distribute the two videos below that are on the Rational Middle website. The goal is to present the rational middle of a very polarizing issue. The Center plans to release several other 11-22 minute videos over the next year dealing with topics within the immigration issue.… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The first two episodes of Rational Middle: Immigration, a new web series discussing the challenges and opportunities of fixing the broken immigration system, are now streaming. Watch below:About Rational Middle:During these tumultuous times, immigration has become a hot-button issue. Histrionics have ruled the day and started a firestorm of debate… 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
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 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… 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 Jorge Vazquez on
Mandatory Topic: Read, Be Prepared and Demonstrate to All EmployeesAttention 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 fastening tools have many things in common… read more