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Check out what's happening at Marek and in the construction industry.
IN THE NEWS.
by Jorge Vazquez on
Not me! That will never happen to me! How many times have we heard someone say that? You may be the guy that may feel like accidents happen just to others, not you. None of us are totally safe guarded from a life- changing event, such as having an accident and getting seriously hurt. This could happen at the work or at home. That is why we should… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
The Marek Family of Companies is responsible for training you in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and of the safety hazards applicable to your workplace. However, you are also an important player in jobsite safety and security. The simplest of tasks, such as placing trash where it belongs, picking up extension cords when not in… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Ten years ago, we took the time to have a small survey at every jobsite asking employees what was the most important thing they work safe for? and the answer was Family. I would like to share a few of those comments written by our Marek employees and I also want to ask you the same question today. What is the most important thing that you work for… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Source: BuildHoustonOnlineDetermination, dedication and diligence…Those words seemed to be the trending topic amongst industry leaders on, Thursday, November 19, 2015 as construction industry & educational leaders joined together at the ABC & CMEF Workforce Development Luncheon held at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas. Their goal, you may… read moreby Shannon Zweifel on
Students from Booker T. Washington High School got the construction low down during the Introduction to Construction event presented by Marek in November. At Marek, we take pride in our employees and the future of our workforce. In order to continue to educate the future of the workforce, we partner with school districts to promote workforce… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Jobsite sanitation is critical to your health and well being. All kinds of diseases can be present around the jobsite locations, drinking water containers and toilet facilities. If you have a medical condition such as, high blood pressure, diabetes, seizures etc that can be jeopardized by weather conditions, work elevation, or chemical reactions… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Sprains and strains continue to be one of the highest types of injuries within our company. By following a few simple rules, many of these injuries can be avoided or their severity greatly reduced. Medical evidence has shown that performing warm-up exercises before work and after breaks reduces strain and sprain type injuries.These rules are:Warm… 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 conditions are… read moreby Whitney Martin on
What do we say to those men and women who fought for our freedom?Words cannot describe the tears that are shed as we watch those we love go off to defend our country.Words cannot describe the worry etched on a parent’s face, the dried tears on a spouse's pillow, the longing look at kids who have both parents safely at home.There are two words that… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Accidents occur for many reasons. In most jobsites people tend to look for "things" or “people” to blame when an accident happens, because it's easier than looking for "root causes,"Failure to Pre-Plan the Work:There is a lot of talk today about Job Hazard Analysis. JHA's are an effective way to figure out the smartest ways to work safely and… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Mobile (also known as rolling) scaffold setups require you to use the same common sense safety rules that apply to the use of stationary upright scaffolding. You should always keep the planks clean; never overload the unit and watch where you are walking.In addition, they require a separate set of cautions that are particular to their design.… read moreby Marek Brothers on
Source: WFAA 8Students often hear about the necessity of going to college. But Wednesday, a large group of DFW area students heard an alternative message – you don't need to go to college to get a great career.They filed into a cavernous warehouse where hundreds of skilled laborers of all sorts hammered and welded and sawed. It was a demonstration… read moreby Stan Marek on
Our national security and energy independence are at risk because the United States has yet to address workforce issues critical to the Texas Gulf Coast. Let me explain.I recently attended a conference in which two very informative speakers shared their perspectives on the oil and petrochemical industries. The first speaker gave an eye-opening… 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… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Notice to Supervisors: Read and prepare for safety meeting. Make sure all employees understand the importance of following our Hazard Analysis and the procedures to work around sprinkler and electrical areas. Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to such dangers as electrical shock, electrocution,… 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 John Hinson on
Marek Dallas Division President John Hinson wrote the following President’s Message for AWCI's Construction Dimension magazine. Hinson is the 2015-2016 President of AWCI.I am privileged to attend several regional association events throughout the coming year in my term as president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, and I hope to… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Working in confined spaces can be pretty common in construction. If you’ve ever had to run conduit in a crawl space or install insulation in a cramped attic, you have worked in a confined space. If that crawl space or attic had some kind of hazard in it- such as volatile fumes from spry insulation or high temperatures caused by the heat of a… read moreby Jorge Vazquez on
Bob NoPay has a problem that affects a lot of employees; he is speaking to his Production Manager on Friday about a short check. When all the facts are reviewed, Bob finds out that his attendance is the problem, not a clerical error from his foreman or payroll.Absenteeism impacts the Marek Family of Companies in many ways. Your foreman and… read moreby John Hinson on
Marek Dallas Division President John Hinson wrote the following President’s Message for AWCI's Construction Dimension magazine. Hinson is the 2015-2016 President of AWCI.I am honored to serve our industry for the next 12 months as president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry. I have worked in the wall and ceiling… read more