News + Blog + Social
Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Whitney Martin on
I’m always looking for things that are suitable to post on MAREK’s social media pages and website.One evening I was scrolling through Facebook, and I came across a post about MAREK that made me take a second and third look.This post was different. This person was no longer a MAREK employee – and yet he still feels MAREK pride and was excited to… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 25 construction workers die each year using aerial lifts. Approximately 70 percent involve boom lifts such as bucket trucks, while 25 percent of the deaths involve scissor lifts. Many aerial lifts deaths occur when the machines tip over while navigating uneven surfaces.Other tip-over occurs… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Peter Beard began his remarks by expressing his appreciation for the efforts of the coaches, mentors, and supervisors who help develop the skilled workforce, saying that Marek is a “bright spot” in addressing the critical challenge of meeting the industry’s need for skilled workers. by Jorge Vazquez on
Foot protection means guarding your toes, ankles and feet from injury. Believe it or not, your feet have 26 bones for support and 38 joints for movement in each foot. Feet also have blood vessels, ligaments, muscles and nerves, which is why it hurts when you stub your toe or drop something on your foot. Your feet are a critical part of your body… read moreby Brent Ballard on
A tradition of excellence runs deep at Marek and at Texas A&M University. This was on full display this summer when Marek brought real world construction into the classroom for TAMU’s Construction Science 254 Materials and Methods lecture class.In the the TAMU Construction Science Department’s new Francis Hall, the Bob Segner Auditorium was… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Prior to coming to work for Marek, Rivas attended the University of Texas at San Antonio for a couple of years. He has worked on the Phillips 66 and MD Anderson projects during his time so far at Marek. His goals include becoming a foreman with his own crew at Marek within the next five years, and ultimately to become a project manager for Marek.by Jorge Vazquez on
Mandatory Topic: Notice to Supervisors: Read and prepare for demonstration of Web-Tex scaffolds. Make sure all employees understand the importance of following our safe scaffold procedures for the Web-Tex system.Web-Tex Scaffold SafetyAt the Marek Family of Companies we thrive on having safe equipment. Keep in mind that equipment is only as safe… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
There are several dangers on job sites simple 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 poor housekeeping creates an unsafe… read moreby John Hinson on
My initial interest in Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry was sparked years ago, when vendors occasionally spoke of Bill Marek’s role as president of the AWCI back in the 1980s. I asked Stan Marek if I could attend a meeting or two to see what it was all about. It was just supposed to be a fact finding trip to gather pertinent… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
It’s a terrible thing to realize that hardly a workday goes by without a construction worker falling off a scaffold to his or her death. And those who survive scaffold falls are often crippled for the remainder of their life.These tragedies are sometimes caused by faulty design or poor construction. But in most cases the basic cause is poor… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
At the Marek Family of Companies 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 the Marek Family of Companies is always looking for ways to protect their employees and get the work done more… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Notice to Supervisors: Read and be prepared to answer questions. Every employee should know to report near misses to their immediate supervisor.At the Marek Family of Companies 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… read moreby Marek Brothers on
The following article was authored by Allyn West and originally published in Cite: The Architecture + Design Review of Houston, a quarterly publication of the Rice Design Alliance. This essay appears in Cite 98. The issue explores the intersections of finance and design. You can purchase the Cite 98 at local bookstores, including Brazos Bookstore… 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 Yesenia Aguilar on
In May, eighteen Booker T. Washington High School students participated in a Drywall Clinic hosted by Marek. The Architecture and Construction Academy students worked in three teams to layout, frame and sheetrock an 8x8 room.Guided by Marek Workforce Development representatives, each student team spent the morning on layout and framing – including… read moreby 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 John Hinson on
Marek Dallas Division President John Hinson wrote the following President’s Message for AWCI's Construction Dimensions magazine. Hinson is the 2015-2016 President of AWCI.It has been an honor and pleasure working with you and the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry the last 12 months. I started this journey several years ago, working my… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
At Marek, we rely on our employees to work as teams to build our jobs, and without teamwork we would not be able to accomplish any of our goals. The teams that we have are generally comprised from a very diverse group, be it different trades, races, genders, religions, etc. We feel that the diversity we have throughout our organization is one of… read moreby Sabra Phillips on
Three of Marek’s Houston-based emerging leaders were honored in May at the ABC Leadership Forum Graduation. Roland Mercier, Glen Blaha and Shannon Zweifel join a number of legacy Marek program grads.The event, hosted at the Houston City Club, honored 26 program graduates from a variety of both general and specialty contractors. Significant others… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Floodwaters often overwhelm sewage systems, leading to discharges of raw sewage that’s full of dangerous bacteria and other biohazards. Rotting animals and other organic wastes may also turn the water into a toxic cocktail.Floodwaters pick up (and create) debris as they race across the ground, so it’s possible that the receding waters will leave a… read more