News + Blog + Social
Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Jorge Vazquez on
Heat Stress
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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Stay Hydrated
Water
The 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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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
NOTE: Open enrollment is closing on June 2, 2023. You still have time to evaluate your benefit choices that are available to you by MAREK.
If you do not complete your enrollment, your coverage elections will remain the same, except for contributions to your Medical Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, or Health… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Shortcuts
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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
HOUSEKEEPING AND TRASH REMOVAL
There are several dangers on job sites simply because of the nature of construction work. When the natural hazards found on construction jobs sites are compounded with clutter and debris, the hazard level increases and the potential for an accident or an injury substantially increases. A construction site with… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Fundamentals of Building Trades - Fireproofing, Firestopping and Building Thermal Insulation
October 9, 2023 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
AGC Houston, 3825 DACOMA, Houston, TX, 77092
Description
The Fundamentals of Building Trades – Fireproofing, Firestopping and Building Thermal course is a one-session, in person program designed to… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
NOTE: Open Enrollment is open! May 10 – June 02. Make sure to log in to your MyMarek to review:
Your elections
Update people to cover & emergency contacts
Add dependent SSNs
Update beneficiaries for life insurance plans
Update phone numbers and addresses
Web-Tex Scaffold Safety
At the Marek Family of… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
ATTN: Open Enrollment starts May 10 and ends June 2, 2023. There will be Virtual and in-person meetings this year. Be sure to join one of the meetings to get all information about the upcoming new plan year!
Houston - In-Person Meeting
May 10 at 9:00am – English & Spanish
May 10 at 4:00pm – English & Spanish
2115 Judiway… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
WEAR EYE PROTECTION PROPERLY
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… read moreby Marek Brothers on
NOTE: Open Enrollment period starts May 10 and ends June 2, 2023. All benefits related information and actions will take place in MyMAREK. NEW: Medical, Vision, and Dental plans are moving to Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX . If you do not complete your enrollment, your coverage elections will remain the same, except for FSA, Dependent… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Tools and equipment include anything like 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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
The “War on Falls” was declared with only one thing in mind – to prevent injuries by eliminating fall exposures. Zero tolerance and suspensions are merely tools to deal with a violation after it occurs. The ultimate goal is eliminating the exposure in the first place. That can only be accomplished by each one of us understanding what is… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
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 Marek Brothers on
In new construction, MAREK is able to coordinate with MEP trade partners to provide a comprehensive penetration and joint firestop package, using single source manufactured products as is often required per project specifications. On existing buildings, MAREK can provide an extensive survey of the life safety drawings in… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET
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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
MATERIAL HANDLING AND HAND SAFETY
Sharp edges and puncture hazards
When 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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
WAR ON FALLS
HOW TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT
How long you work for us is based on how you safely perform your job and meet the production expectations of your supervisor.
Every front line supervisor is responsible for timely reporting of all work-related injuries, accidents and fall exposures. To properly carry out duties, today we are… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Line of Fire Safety Talk
The term “line of fire” is very common when talking about the hazards of a work task. Depending on the work being completed, there may be many different lines of fire or there could be very few. It is important to understand the “line of fire” and how to… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
WAR ON FALLS STILTS
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 stable surface, scaffold, material stack, or wall for support when getting on or off stilts. When mounting stilts, the top leg strap first… read more