NMUCA

NEWS

April 2025

From the Executive Director's Desk

Hello Members,

Thanks to everyone who attended our membership meeting in March. It was a very informative meeting with Carla Sonntag, NM Business Coalition. I will have a final report on the legislative session after the Governor's deadline for signing bills into law passes (April 11).

Our next event is our Tinnin Clay shoot that is almost sold out. See the flyer below if you're interested in participating.

We're growing and would like to welcome our new members: GM Emulsion and Badger.

I am hoping to see you soon!

Jane Jernigan

Your 2025 NMUCA Board of Directors & Staff

President, Dale Armstrong, TLC Plumbing & Utility 505 761 9696

Vice-President, Damon Wicketts, 4Rivers Equipment 505 884 2900

Secretary/Treasurer, Jenice Gallegos, Groundwater Partners

Past President, Clay Blair, SpearD 505 761 9696

Troy Otero, Groundhog Construction Services 505 243 2133

Director Darrin Howells, AUI Inc. 505 242 4848

Director Joe Menicucci, Downey & Company 881 0300

Director Reinee Peacher, DuCross Construction 575 636 3023

Director Kelley Fetter, E2RC 505 867 4040

Director John Theiler, DH Underground

Director Terri Baker, Core and Main 505 344 0223

Director Russ Collins, RMCI Ind. 505 345 0008

Director Sam Stribling, 814 Solutions 505 872 0846

Executive Director, Jane Jernigan 505 888 0752

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jane Jernigan, Executive Director

New Mexico Utility Contractors Association

505 888 0752 Phone

505 362 8950 Cell

nmuca@nmuca.org Email

Jane.NMUCA@Gmail.com

WWW. NMUCA.ORG

Thank You 2025 Platinum Investment Sponsor

Upcoming in your mailbox..............

NM Construction Safety Coalition Invite
Member Survey
May Happy Hour

Visit NMUCA.ORG for Event Info & Registrations

Welcome New Members

GM Emulsion LLC

5935 Agua Fria St.

Santa Fe, NM 87507

P.505.471.9981

Gabriel Martinez

www.gmemulsion.com

Badger

6280 Desert Road SE

Albuquerque, NM 87105

Mobile: 505.595.4653

Jose Vassio

https://www.badgerinc.com/

New Mexico Construction Safety Coalition

NMOSHA Plans to Adopt Fed's Heat Stress

The State of NM Environmental Department distributed a news release on March 14th, 2025 announcing their intent to adopt the Federal proposed Heat Stress Rule. Note that this rule has been floating around at the federal level for years but never officially adopted as a rule.

Under the proposed rule, employers would be required to take measures to protect workers from heat-related illness and injury including:

Taking time to acclimate to hot environments
Providing access to clean, cool drinking water throughout the workday
Mandating frequent rest periods in the shade.

NMUCA has no objection to employers providing protection for workers from heat, but we are very concerned about the narrow and strict parameters to which they are being mandated.

Click Here to Read the Press Release

Click Here to Read the Petition

The OHSB will have an open comment period in April and May, and will also conduct stakeholder meetings. The first meeting is scheduled for April 8th at ABCNM from 2-4pm. If you cannot attend in person, you may join via Zoom with the link below. The next meeting is scheduled for April 15th 10am-Noon at 8801 Horizon Blvd (no Zoom info for this meeting)

Join Zoom Meeting 04/08/2025 2pm-4pm OSHB Heat Stress Stakeholder Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85668032168?pwd=b41ApJDuDp9RZ0VO5aaThlD1BcsojT.1

Meeting ID: 856 6803 2168

Passcode: 660977

Safetydude, LLC Newsletter

Click Here to Read it Online

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads. Cell phone use — specifically, texting, talking, and social media use — has become the most common distraction. Other risky actions include adjusting the radio or GPS, applying makeup, eating and drinking. By driving distracted, you’re robbing yourself of seconds that you may need to avoid a close call or deadly crash.

Drive Responsibly

In 2022, distracted driving killed 3,308 people. April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, is a good time to regroup and take responsibility for the choices we make when we’re on the road. Follow these safety tips for a safe ride:

Need to send a text? Pull over and park your car in a safe location.
Designate your passenger as your “designated texter” to respond to calls or messages.
Do not scroll through apps while driving. Struggling not to text and drive? Put the cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of the vehicle until you arrive at your destination.

The Consequences

During a portion of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, from April 7 through 14, you may see increased law enforcement on the roadways as part of the national paid media campaign Put the Phone Away or Pay. This campaign reminds drivers of the deadly dangers and the legal consequences – including fines – of texting behind the wheel.

Visit National Highway Traffic Safety Administration For more information.

Distracted Driving (Cellphone Use) Safety Talk

Using cellphones or other devices while driving has proven to be deadly. Cellphone use during driving is very prevalent on our roads today. In fact, at any given time throughout the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while behind the wheel of an automobile.

Smartphones have made it easy for us to stay connected at all times. But that can pose serious safety risks if someone decides to check his or her text messages, emails, phone calls, or any other mobile applications while driving.

Some Statistics about Cellphone Use and Driving

The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.
In the U.S. in 2018, over 2,800 people were killed, and an estimated 400,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. (CDC)
Nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.
1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk.
Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. Traveling at 55 mph, that’s enough time to travel the length of a football field.
Texting while driving causes a 400% increase in time spent with eyes off the road.

Mitigation Actions for Distracted Driving:

Put the cell phone down while driving.
Put your cellphone on airplane mode if needed to eliminate distractions as well as the urge to answer a text, call, or email alert.
If you need to text or call while driving, pull over to a safe area to do so.
When traveling as a passenger, urge any driver who is using their cellphone to put it down.
If there is another driver on the road who is using a phone while driving, maintain a safe distance from them and be a defensive driver. Always leave yourself an out in case of any type of accident occurs around your vehicle.

Discussion points:

Has distracted driving impacted anyone you know?
Discuss your company’s cell phone/electronics use policy on the job.

Information Provided by SafetyTalkIdeas

Click Here to Subscribe to OSHA's Newsletter

Did You Know?

OSHA's construction infrastructure webpage provides resource for employers, workers and others involved in the job of improving and building our nation’s infrastructure. It includes information about common construction hazards and how to better identify and control them using safety and health programs.

¿Sabías?

La página web de OSHA sobre la construcción de infraestructuras proporciona recursos para empleadores, trabajadores y otras personas implicadas en el trabajo de mejora y construcción de las infraestructuras de nuestra nación. Incluye información sobre peligros habituales en la construcción y sobre cómo identificarlos y controlarlos mejor mediante programas de seguridad y salud.

2025 Meeting Schedule

April 2025

9th Safety Committee

10th Planning Committee

17^th Board Meeting

25^th Tinnin Clay shoot

May 2025

1st Construction Safety Coalition

8th Planning

15th Board Meeting

15th Social

Lunch and Learn

June 2025

11th Safety Committee

12th Planning

19^th Board Meeting

19th Membership Meeting

Isotopes Game (14th)

August 2025

13^th Safety “Committee

14th Planning

11th 811 Day

21^st Board Meeting

21^st Membership Meeting

Lunch and Learn

September 2025

4th Construction Safety Coalition

5th Last Ditch Open Golf Tournament

11th Planning

18th Board Meeting

18th Social

October 2025

8th Safety Committee

9th Planning

16th Board Meeting

16th Las Cruces

21, 22, 23 NM Regional Common Ground Alliance

Lunch and Learn

November 2025

7th End of Year Social

12th Safety Committee Breakfast

13th Planning Committee Lunch

20th Board Meeting

EVENTS

Meet the Generals

Membership Meetings

Safety Award Luncheon

Tinnin Clay Shoot

NMUCA Night at Isotopes

Last Ditch Open

End of Year Social

Get Social With NMUCA!