News + Blog + Social
Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Jorge Vazquez on
Let's take a quick test. How many basic senses do we have at birth? Name them. Is it one.... two.... four? I'm sure we all agree the answer is FIVE. These five senses are SIGHT, HEARING, TASTE, TOUCH and SMELL.If you were faced with sacrificing four of these five basic senses, which ones would you keep? Most people would keep their sense of SIGHT… read moreby Grace Johnson on
The following blog post was written by Grace Johnson, Safety Advisor at MAREK's Houston location.I was recently given the opportunity by MAREK, along with one of our Field Foreman, Jaime Ramos to participate on a discussion panel hosted by the AGC Houston. The panel consisted of 6 individuals both male and female, discussing the obstacles women… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
When we do accident investigations, a lot of times we’ll find injuries can be attributed to some type of distraction.Although it may not be possible to eliminate distractions, experts say steps can be taken to minimize them and recognize when they occur.Different types of distractionsWhen people are distracted, they are not paying attention and… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Pop quiz: What’s the most valuable resource in construction?
If your answer is a specific building material, process, or even technology, you’d be incorrect. Construction’s most valuable resource: people. by Jorge Vazquez on
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 his duties, today we are reviewing with all employees, the… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Construction Career Collaborative (C3) Executive Director Chuck Gremillion:
Recently, Construction Career Collaborative (C3) board chairman, Mike Holland, COO of MAREK, board members Jerry Lea, Executive Vice President of Hines, Jim Stevenson, immediate past board chair of C3 and President of the Houston… 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
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
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 moreby 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 moreby 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 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 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 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… read moreby 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 moreby 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 moreby 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 moreby 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