IN THE NEWS.

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Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.

by 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 more

by Marek Brothers on

John Hinson ASSP TEXO recently hosted its 6th annual Construction Safety Professionals Day, which brought together TEXO members, safety professionals, and key decision makers for two days of high quality speakers, workshop sessions, and a vendor showcase. Furthermore, TEXO and its Safety Committee developed the Construction Safety Professionals Day to give… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

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) while handling metal framing, trash and… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

As you might have heard, the new ANSI Standards regarding mobile equipment working platforms are out and this classifies the equipment into two different groups.Group A is consisted of MEWPs that move vertically but stay inside the tipping lines. Group B includes all others, such as boom-type MEWPs where the platform extends past the machine’s… read more

by 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

by Marek Brothers on

As attorneys prepare to make arguments about protections for young immigrants before the United States Supreme Court next week, nearly 50 business leaders from around Texas asked Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to "take up legislation that will provide a permanent solution for undocumented youth, also… read more

by 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… read more

by Marek Brothers on

The filmmakers at the Rational Middle have now also launched a podcast tackling the tough topic of immigration. Their video documentary series on the issue, which you can check out here, offers a primer on how the United States arrived at the broken immigration system it has today.

by Marek Brothers on

Construction isn't just for the guys. In fact, one of the most pervasive myths that we hear all the time is that women are somehow not welcome in the industry.

by Jorge Vazquez on

An injury because of a fall is a major problem in construction. More than 20,000 people are killed every year due to a fall. Only traffic accidents cause more tragedy.Falling hazards on jobsites are grouped into three general categories:Falls on the same level.Falls from an elevated area.Being struck by a falling object.Slipping, tripping or… read more

by Marek Brothers on

The following post was published in the HISD blog regarding the commitment ceremony that was held recently for dozens of Houston students in a new dual credit, two-year construction certification program at Houston Community College:As a young boy, Jorge Rubio, a sophomore at HISD’s Austin High School, idolized his father and dreamed of one day… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

 At 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 more

by Marek Brothers on

The following post was published in the Houston Community College blog regarding the commitment ceremony that was held recently for dozens of Houston students in a new dual credit, two-year construction certification program at Houston Community College:Dozens of HISD dual credit students gathered last week at the HCC Southeast College… read more

by Marek Brothers on

The following article was authored by Scott Braddock and originally published on Construction Citizen.A commitment ceremony was held this past week for dozens of Houston students in a new dual credit, two-year construction certification program at Houston Community College. The whole thing is being done in partnership with MAREK, one of the… read more

by 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 stable surface such as a scaffold or material stack when getting on or off stilts. When mounting stilts, the top leg strap first will be buckled first. When… read more

by Marek Brothers on

The following article was authored by Norman Adams and originally published on TXSIP.org.At a recent Texas Summit on Immigration in Houston last week, my good friend Stan Marek, co-founder of TXSIP and CEO of MAREK, explained a sensible immigration policy we call “ID and Tax.”With Texas’ unemployment at 3.4% and businesses in need of more workers… read more

by Marek Brothers on

Just as legislative action appears to be grinding to a halt in Washington amid an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, business leaders and others gathered in Southeast Texas for a day-long summit focused on the next steps in their fight for immigration reform.

by Jorge Vazquez on

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 silica the lung tissue reacts by… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

Tools and equipment include anything from 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 provides the necessary equipment to… read more

by Jorge Vazquez on

 DISCIPLINARY POLICY All 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.… read more