Your NMUCA Board of Directors & Staff
Contact Us - Staff and Board of Directors
President, Troy Otero, Groundhog Construction Services 505 243 2133
Vice-President, Clay Blair, RMCI Inc. 505 345 0008
Secretary/Treasurer, Mike McCalmont, 4 Rivers Equipment 505 884 2900
Past President, Dub Girand, Highway Supply LLC 505 345 8295
Director Darrin Howells, AUI Inc. 505 242 4848
Director Mike Smith, TLC Plumbing & Utility 505 761 9696
Director Joe Menicucci, Contech Engineered Solutions 505 842 8282
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 2021 Platinum Investment Sponsors
Upcoming in your mailbox..............
  • Resourced for Heatstroke Prevention
  • Membership Meeting Registration and Reminders
  • Human Resources Tips and Updates
  • LDO Player Registration
NMUCA NM811 Night at NMU


(Click Turquoise Section to see available tickets in the reserved section)

Please join us at NMUCA/NM811 at the NM United Match on July 24th, 2021.
Some of the best seats in the house have been reserved and discounted for us. 
We will also have a tailgate party prior to the match at 5pm included in your ticket price (BYOB)
Location is NW Corner of football stadium - look for NMUCA and NM811 signs
Last Ditch Open 2021
Title Sponsor
Available Sponsorships:
Shirt Sponsor
Hat Sponsor
Door Prize Donations
Hole Sponsors
More Fore Four Teams
DETAILS

· Check in Starts at 7:15 am
· Driving Range
· Putting Green
· Carts
· Tournament Gifts
· Scramble
· Post Tournament Lunch
· Awards Presentations
· Door Prize Giveaways
· Raffle Tickets
· On Course beverage coupons
· Hole in One Contest  
· Closest to the Pin
· Longest Drive

Single Player
$200
Team of 4
$800
More Fore Four*
$1000
Hole Sponsor
$250

*More Fore Four includes: 4 players, hole sponsor, 12 Mulligans, 12 Raffle Tickets, 10ft string
 
 

Last Ditch Open
 
Shot-Gun Start at 8:00 am
 
Scramble Format
 
Sandia Golf Club
 
September 10, 2021  
 
Beverage Coupons
Golf Balls
Breakfast
Lunch
Sponsorships
Available

Hole Sponsors:
Advanced Environmental Solutions
Vermeer Southwest
814 Solutions
Rain For Rent
Rinker Materials
AUI Inc.
RMCI Inc.
TLC Plumbing & Utility
PRC
4 Rivers
B2W
MT Private Utility Locating Services

Tee It Forward
B2W  

On Course Beverage
Sponsored by:

Thank you 2021 Silver Investment Sponsors
July is Heatstroke Prevention Month


Heat Stroke

Seek medical help immediately if someone is suffering from heat stroke. Signs include:
• Body temperature above 103 degrees
• Skin that is flushed, dry and hot to the touch; sweating has usually stopped
• Rapid breathing
• Headache, dizziness, confusion or other signs of altered mental status
• Irrational or belligerent behavior
• Convulsions or unresponsiveness

Immediately take action:
• Call 911
• Move the victim to a cool place
• Remove unnecessary clothing
• Immediately cool the victim, preferably by immersing up to the neck in cold water (with the help of a second rescuer)
• If immersion in cold water is not possible, place the victim in a cold shower or move to a cool area and cover as much of the body as possible with cold, wet towels
• Keep cooling until body temperature drops to 101 degrees
• Monitor the victim's breathing and be ready to give CPR if needed

DO NOT:
• Force the victim to drink liquids
• Apply rubbing alcohol to the skin
• Allow victims to take pain relievers or salt tablets

The best way to avoid a heat-related illness is to limit exposure outdoors during hot days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Air conditioning is the best way to cool off
• Drink fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty, and avoid alcohol
• Wear loose, lightweight clothing and a hat
• Replace salt lost from sweating by drinking fruit juice or sports drinks
• Avoid spending time outdoors during the hottest part of the day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wear sunscreen; sunburn affects the body's ability to cool itself
• Pace yourself when you run or otherwise exert your body

Heat Stress
Heat Stress Safety Talk
Heat stress can be a killer on the jobsite. Deaths from heat-related issues between 2005 and 2009 rose to higher rates than any others observed during any other 5-year periods in the past 35 years. Outside of the direct consequences such as heat stroke, heat stress can cause incidents due to loss of focus or excessive fatigue on the job.

Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat Cramps: Are painful, brief muscle cramps. Muscles may spasm or jerk involuntarily. Heat cramps can occur during exercise or work in a hot environment or begin a few hours later.

Heat Exhaustion: There are two types of heat exhaustion. 1. Water depletion- Signs include excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and loss of consciousness. 2. Salt depletion- Signs include nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness.

Heat Stroke– Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. Heat stroke can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures — usually in combination with dehydration — which leads to failure of the body’s temperature control system.

Medical Response
If anyone is displaying symptoms of a heat-related illness, it is important to get them the proper medical attention they need before the problem turns into heat stroke. For people displaying symptoms of heat exhaustion, have them stop work and get to a shaded area. The affected person needs to consume water or electrolyte replacing sports drinks. The person should not return to work the rest of the day.

Anyone who is displaying symptoms of a heat stroke, immediate medical attention is needed. Delaying calling 911 could result in irreversible injuries or death. Symptoms of heat stroke include fainting, throbbing headache, dizziness, lack of sweating, vomiting, or behavioral changes such as confusion. The person should be cooled down immediately in a shaded area or indoors. DO NOT put ice cold water on the victim as this can cause shock. Use cool water to lower the body temperature of the victim. Remove any unnecessary clothing and fan the victim until medics arrive.

Safe Work Practices to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses
  • Allow for acclimatization to a hot environment before any strenuous work begins. It takes roughly two weeks for an individual to acclimate to a hot environment.
  • Drink plenty of water during strenuous activities especially in hot environments. An average person sweats between roughly 27 oz. to 47 oz. per hour during intense labor. To put that amount into perspective, an average water bottle holds 16.9oz.
  • Take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors where there is AC.
Summary
Take heat stress seriously. Know the signs and symptoms of heat stress. Have a plan to get the proper medical attention for any individual displaying symptoms of heat stress. Dealing with heat stroke especially, it may mean the difference between life and death.


REGISTER NOW
NM Damage Prevention Summit
October 26-28, 2021
Isleta Resort

Congratulations to Sponsorship Recipients

Bill R. Alexander Scholarship
(Pictured Left)
Ariana Gutierrez, Highway Supply LLC


NMUCA Scholarship
Michael Richardson, Sundance Mechanical & Utility


Human Resources - Compliance Corner

Unemployment Fraud
In New Mexico

What Should You Do?


If you are having issues with unemployment claims fraud, here are some things you can do: 

1) Report to NMDWFS
Report fraudulent claims to Email  -  id.verify@state.nm.us
Suggested Verbiage:
Claimant #: 000000000
Claimant Name: __________
SS # XXX-XX-1234  (last 4 only)

This is a fraudulent claim.  Claimant Name  has never been an employee* of Company Name. I have searched our records by both name and SS # and have found no records. Please mark this claim as fraudulent.
*or is a current employee (this is common also) 

2) When filling out paperwork for a claim that is fraudulent, add "fraud" to each line, or future dates to grab the attention of the processor to call. Can add "I will Hire Back Today." This flags the claim for them to contact you. 

3) Some fraudulent claims are for current employees. If that happens, share this sample letter with your employee: 
Hello _________,
I need to let you know that we had a fraudulent unemployment claim that you were discharged due to “__________” on 00/00/0000.
What does this mean?
1.       Someone put in a SSN (the last 4 match yours and that’s all we can see on the claim)
2.       They cannot move forward unless they provide an ID and SS Card with the correct info IN PERSON
3.       We were told by NMWDS that unless they provide the documentation it will remain “frozen”
 
After speaking to NMDWS, they confirmed there is no breach of our account, or information, with the Department of Workforce Solutions. NMDWS stated this is happening to a TON of people (who are currently employed) ALL over the country and usually the IP addresses committing this fraud are from a foreign country. The unemployment payments are usually deposited into the accounts of the imposters, luckily, that’s usually all they get. Sometimes payments get sent to the real person's account, instead. If this happens to you, the imposters may call, text, or email to try to get you to send some or all of the money to them. They may pretend to be your state unemployment agency and say the money was sent by mistake. Do NOT respond if you are contacted, call NMDWS directly. 1-877-664-6984.
What now?
1.       Monitor your credit closely for the next year
a.       If you don’t have a credit monitoring service, you can visit www.identitytheft.gov to report fraud to FTC and get help with the next steps. This includes:
                                                               i.      One-year fraud alert on your credit
                                                             ii.      Getting your free credit reports
                                                            iii.      Closing any fraudulent accounts that may have been opened in your name
2.       Call and report the incident to the social security office
3.       It is recommended that you file a police report (the fraudulent claim in your name was created on 00/00/0000). Especially if there is a need to file unemployment in the future.
 
IF you get any documentation from NMDWS about the claim, I recommend calling. It might reference that the bank account provided didn’t work and they are sending you a debit card. Keep ALL documentation, especially if it has a case number on it. (We would be happy to scan it into your employee file)
 
Please let me know if you have any questions/concerns,

4) Remember, if your employee was a victim of a fraudulent claim, they will have to pay taxes on the income if they do not take steps to correct the fraud. (see letter above) 

5) If you have received your unemployment insurance premium notice and it has increased due to COVID 19 layoffs or terminations, please contact me directly as I am working with a group getting these corrected. You can also just contact the NMDWFS. Your rates should not have increased during COVID shutdowns/restrictions due to BW3 passed in the Special Session last June which included the following language: As outlined in SECTION 11. Section 51-1-11 NMSA 1978 Q which states: The secretary shall omit data for March 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 from calculations of an employing enterprise's experience history, excess claims premiums and excess claims rates. The secretary shall use the 2019 computation date reserve factor from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.


News From OSHA

Participate in Safe + Sound Week



Safe + Sound Week is August 9-15, 2021. 

Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event to recognize the adoption of programs to improve workplace safety and health. Implementing a safety and health program can improve businesses' safety and health performance, save money, and improve competitiveness.
Visit the Safe + Sound Week webpage to sign up to participate, and for ideas on planning and promoting your event.

Get Social With NMUCA!