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Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Jorge Vazquez on
At the 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 moreby Marek Brothers on
MAREK announces the promotion of four leaders to Managing Directors of its Houston commercial construction business. Saied Alavi, George Kissamis, Phil Nevlud and Jorge Rodriguez will serve as the senior management team leading sales and operations for core and tenant drywall, acoustical ceilings, paint, specialty finishes, flooring, fabric panels… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Elizabeth McPherson and originally published on ConstructionCitizen.com. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) have developed an amazing tool which enables contractors to build safety programs to ensure that their employees remain safe on their jobsites. ABC’s STEP program, which stands for… 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
There’s one hand tool that demands your respect over many others in the workplace, a tool that can cut you to the bone in an instant . . . the utility knife.Many workers use utility knives to cut drywall, ceiling tile, strapping, puncture shrinkwrap and open packaging. But one wrong move and these blades can do serious harm.In fact, nearly 40… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Jim Kollaer and originally published in ConstructionCitizen.com.There are over 50 definitions of the term POD on the net. The definitions range from “seed pods” to “self-contained storage units" brand named PODS, but most definitions relate to a self contained unit of some sort.In the construction world,… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Hot weather causes more fatalities than any other weather-related source. Heat waves rarely are given adequate attention but in fact, they claim more lives each year than floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. Heat waves are a silent killer. Heatstroke also affects both genders equally. However, because many men were exposed to heat in the… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was originally published on BuildHoustonOnline.Are some of Houston’s leading construction firms crazy or insane in their approaches to attract and train quality entry-level craft workers? Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result.S&B Engineers and… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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. Half a job or inadequate or incomplete jobs of covering hole in the floor. Why did it happen?Although originally nailed down with 8d… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
WaterThe natural choice for hydration is water. It hydrates better than any other liquid, both before and during work. Water tends to be less expensive and more available than any other drink. You need to drink 4-6 ounces of water for every 15-20 minutes of work. That can add up to a lot of water! Water is the best, but it only helps you if you… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Hot weather causes more fatalities than any other weather-related source. Heat waves rarely are given adequate attention but in fact, they claim more lives each year than floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. Heat waves are a silent killer. Heatstroke also affects both genders equally. However, because many men were exposed to heat in the… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Mandatory Topic:Notice to Supervisors: Mandatory Demonstration requires a Minimum of 20 minutes to effectively cover topic.Material Handling InstructionYou will need to demonstrate material handling with at least two different sizes of rock: refer to weight/loading information listed below that was obtained from our suppliers. You will need to… 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:Broken… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article authored by Dylan Baddour was originally published in the Houston Chronicle. Reprinted with permission.Jaime Ramos worked picking ornamental ferns in Florida until he got ready to start a family. He took a higher-paying construction job, but then found himself frustrated by a transient labor force that learns as it goes.“… 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 Jorge Vazquez on
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 Scaffold, covering the following… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 cord by pulling the cord.… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Chuck Gremillion, Executive Director of the Construction Career Collaborative. There have been occasions during my tenure as C3’s executive director where I have felt as if we were trying to change the world, and in many ways we are – the world of construction. And as most readers of this blog would… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Eleanor Dearman and originally published in the Quorum Report:The House Business & Industry Committee heard a bill on worker misclassification Monday evening. During the meeting, Stan Marek, CEO of Marek Brothers Construction,Inc and the Workers Defense Project will… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Project Safe states quite simply:Employee Basic Safety Rules, Safe Work Habits: “Careless disregard for the safety of other employees will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate termination."“Employees will be expected to regularly inspect and evaluate the work area for hazardous conditions, and to report any changes immediately to the… read more