NMUCA
NEWS
March 2022
Membership Meeting
NM DOT
April 14, 2022
11:30am - 1pm
Safety Committee
April 13, 2022
8am

Human Resources Committee
April 13, 2022
9:15am
Planning Committee
April 12, 2022
8am
Upcoming Dates

April 17 Easter Sunday
May 5 CSC
May 18 Confined Space
May 19 NMUCA Social
June 18 NMUCA Night at Isotopes

Zia Partnership Renewals and New member applications being accepted now.

From the Executive Director's Desk
American Flag


Hello Members,

It's Warm! It's Cold! It's Snowing!
It's Sunny! It's Windy!

It must be Spring in New Mexico!

Spring is here and is a sign that winter is leaving and summer is coming. Remember with each season comes new hazards for the people working in construction. Sometimes, we forget that the wind can be a hazard to people and equipment. Watch for blowing dust in your eyes, swinging car doors and flying debris. Here's a quick toolbox talk on Wind Hazards.

OSHA will be publishing it's new initiative on Heat Stress soon and there are changes coming. Join the CSC on May 5th to learn more.

Please remember that the Safety Workplaces Act goes into effect on July 1st and you are expected to be in compliance. For a synopsis of the law Click Here - Thank you Poms & Associates, or you can read the law here.

I hope to see you at our next meeting in April; until then, Stay Safe and Sane!

Jane
Your NMUCA Board of Directors & Staff
Contact Us - Staff and Board of Directors
President, Clay Blair, RMCI Inc. 505 345 0008
Secretary/Treasurer, Mike Smith, TLC Plumbing & Utility 505 761 9696
Past President, Troy Otero, Groundhog Construction Services 505 243 2133
Director Darrin Howells, AUI Inc. 505 242 4848
Director Steve Clark, Highway Supply LLC 505 345 8295
Director Joe Menicucci, Downey & Company 881 0300
Director Reinee Peacher, DuCross Construction 575 636 3023
Director Jenice Gallegos, Wood. 505 821 1801
Director Kelley Fetter, E2RC 505 867 4040 
Scott Peck, MP Group 505 340 2015
Executive Director, Jane Jernigan 505 888 0752

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

Jane Jernigan, Executive Director
New Mexico Utility Contractors Association 
505 888 0752 Phone
505 362 8950 Cell 
Thank You 2022 Platinum Investment Sponsors
Upcoming in your mailbox..............
  • Membership Meeting information
  • Update and Call to Action on Repeal of PLA Contracts for City of Alb.
  • Upcoming Meetings Reminders
  • Zia Partnership Renewals and Sign-ups
Thank you 2022 Silver Investment Sponsors
Membership Meeting
NMUCA Night at Isotopes Park
It's Back!!

NMUCA Night at Isotopes Park
June 18th

This is historically one of NMUCA's most attended events.

Call or Email Jane
505 362 8950 Jane.NMUCA@Gmail.com

A great time to enjoy America's Favorite Pastime with your workmates & family!!
Picnic in the Pavilion
Firework Night (sell out crowd)
Stadium Seats

Sponsorship Opportunities are available now!

For maximum marketing exposure for you, please sponsor by 4/20
Human Resources
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
9:15am
Open to All Members

STEVEN G. MEILLEUR, Ph.D., SPHR
Poms & Associates Risk Services LLC

  1. Cannabis Law & Drug Policies
  2. Violence in the Workplace Awareness
Confined Space for Construction
May 18, 2022
8am – 9am 

Instructor: Bill Devinney, Safetdude, LLC 

4836 Hardware Dr NE Suite A 


Free to members as part of our Grant from the PRC PSB 
Confined spaces - such as manholes, crawl spaces, and tanks - are not designed for continuous occupancy and are difficult to exit in the event of an emergency. People working in confined spaces face life-threatening hazards including toxic substances, electrocutions, explosions, and asphyxiation. Get trained in Confined Space Safety!!
Safety Focus - Distracted Driving Awareness

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.



We have all experienced a close call with a distracted driver. The best remedy and defense is for you to be focused on your driving and do not drive distracted! The number one culprit of distracted drivers is their phone!

For more information including training and toolbox talk materials, visit the National Safety Council's dedicated webpage by Clicking Here




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


Safety Talk provided by: Safety Talk Ideas
Zia Partnership
What is the Zia Partnership?

A Free NMUCA Member Benefit
Applications being accepted NOW!
Contact Jane Jernigan at the NMUCA Office

What is the Zia Partnership?
  • This is a partnership between the NM OSHA and NMUCA that allows  NMUCA members to partner with NMOSHA and build a relationship with them based on fairness, good faith and mutual respect that is maintained through honest and open communication
  • The Partnership will strive to foster, maintain and improve the safety and health conditions and requirements for New Mexico’s construction workers and workplaces.
  • The Partnership will continually strive to improve the science of workplace safety through the adoption of new technologies, and improved management practices.
  • The Partnership will provide recognition and rewards for companies and workers which demonstrate a consistent, pro-active approach to safety and health program management.
  • Benefits conferred at each level.
  • There are three levels: Platinum, Gold, and Silver. Each level was designed to fit the safety culture of various sized companies.

What are the benefits?
  • Benefits vary depending on which level your company best fits. All members will receive recognition from NM OSHA on their web page, and certificate of participation. Members also receive recognition throughout the year from NMUCA.
  • Zia Partnership participants at any level will not receive citations for non-serious  violations provided hazards are abated at the time of inspection and verified by compliance personnel. Gold level participants, in cases where a citation is issued, will be given maximum good faith, size and history penalty reductions outlined in the current NM OSHA Field Operations Manual (FOM).
  • Silver and Gold members are encouraged to move up levels in the Partnership by striving towards safety in the workplace and  utilizing mentors at the Platinum level and OSHA representatives.
  • Platinum members will be exempt from program planned inspections for the current year and will undergo non-program planned inspections under specific conditions (listed in partnership agreement). 
  • To see a full list of benefits and requirements, please contact the Partnership     Coordinator—Jane Jernigan at 505 888 0752.
 
 GOALS of the Zia Partnership 
  • To provide leadership in creating a culture of full respect for the lives and sound health of New Mexico’s construction workforce.
  • To continually seek better methods and technologies for reducing injuries, occupational illness, disease and fatalities in New Mexico’s workplaces.
  • To foster and encourage the implementation and maintenance of best practice safety and training programs.
  • To foster and encourage the implementation and maintenance of effective safety program incentive and enforcement policies.
  • To focus primarily on the common job site hazards related to falls, electrocution, and accidental impact injuries.
  • To mitigate the negative economic impacts of workplace injuries, illnesses and occupational disease, including especially the cost of worker’s compensation insurance, in so far as is possible.
 
Get Social With NMUCA!