NMUCA
NEWS
November 2021
Construction Safety Coalition
Access to Presentation
Human Resources Committee
November 12
10:30am - Noon
I-9 Self Audit Webinar
Holiday Party
November 12, 2021
6pm - 10pm
Upcoming Dates

November 11 - Veteran's Day

November 25 - Thanksgiving

December 10th Employment Policy Update Webinar

December 15 - Safety Breakfast
From the Executive Director's Desk
American Flag
Dear Member,


November has already proven to be a busy month for business and infrastructure as it pertains to regulation and bills coming out of Washington D.C.

First, US DOL OSHA released an Emergency Temporary Standard on Vaccination and Testing. As of the writing of this newsletter, a Federal Appeals Court has issued an injunction on the Standard and this will be sorted out through the courts. Click Here to Read the Standard.

Also, on Friday November 5th, the US House of Representatives passed a 1.75 Trillion Dollar "Infrastructure Bill." More information on what is in the bill below.

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This is the right time for an I-9 Self Audit. Poms and Associates invites NMUCA members to attend a free webinar on November 12th. More details below.

Call Or Email me!
505 888 0752

Stay Safe and Sane!
Jane


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

New Board Members in 2022 (Official on January 1, 2022)
Joe Menicucci, Downey and Company
Steve Clark, Highway Supply LLC

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Jane Jernigan, Executive Director
New Mexico Utility Contractors Association 
PO Box 90847
Alb., NM 87199
505 888 0752 Phone
505 362 8950 Cell 
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Construction Safety Coalition
Winter Weather Hazards
Industry enjoyed an in-person CSC Meeting for the first time in two years. Dino Franco presented information on Winter Weather Hazards outside of the "normal box" of things we already know. If you missed the presentation, you can view the slides here: Link to Presentation
ON THE HILL -- INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSES
The following is a summary of the Infrastructure Bill passed on Friday. It would appropriate for FY22-26 $12.838B for the Clean Water State SRF, starting at $2.127B in FY22 and going up to $2.828B in FY26, and $35.713B over five years for the Safe Drinking Water SRF, starting at $6.702B in FY22 and going up to $7.403B in FY26. This would represent 2-4x increases in annual funding for the SRFs.

No appropriations are included for the Alternative Water Source Projects program (an authorization of $125M over 5 fiscal years is). For the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), the bill appropriates $8.3B for FY22-26 with an annual cap of $1.66B per year. The bill lists a number of programs under USBR’s jurisdiction with specific appropriated amounts but does not specify annual funding amounts for each program. Either the Interior Appropriations bill will make that decision or the USBR. For water recycling, the bill appropriates $1B over 5 FY’s, broken down to $550M for Title XVI and WIIN Act grants and $450M for “large scale” projects (those with project costs >$500M). Again, regarding the $550M, the bill doesn’t break this down between the two programs, presumably leaving that to either the Interior Appropriations bill or the USBR. The bill also includes $400M over 5 FY’s for WaterSMART programs, $1.2B for water storage and groundwater, and $25M for desalination projects.

Other core infrastructure highlights include:
• $110B for Roads, Bridges and Major Infrastructure Projects
• $40B for Bridges
• $16B for Major Surface Transportation Projects
• $11B for Transportation Safety
• $39B for Transit
• $66B for Passenger and Freight Rail
• $65B for Broadband
• $17B for Ports
• $25B for Airports
• $7.5B for Zero and Low-Emission Buses and Ferries
• $7.5B for Plug-In Electric Vehicle Chargers
• $65B to Rebuild the Electric Grid
• $21B for Superfund and Brownfield sites
Thank you 2021 Silver Sponsor
Human Resources - Compliance Corner
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I-9

Self Audit









I-9 Self Audit Webinar Registration
November 12, 2021 10:30am - Noon
Click Here to Register (No-Cost for NMCUA Members)

Safety Focus

Are you too tired to drive?

Sleepiness and driving are a dangerous combination, just as dangerous in fact as driving under the influence. Not getting enough sleep the night before you have to drive is an important signal to pay attention to for yourself and your friends. 

55%
of drowsy driving crashes involve those under 25 years old

For More Information on Drowsy Driving and how you can prevent it
Click Here to visit the Drowsy Driving Week Webpage

Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep
If you’re sleeping less than what your body needs, you may experience symptoms in addition to feeling tired, such as:
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Difficulty with memory
  • Puffy eyes, bags, or dark circles under eyes
  • Feeling hungrier or gaining weight
  • Irritability or moodiness
  • Depression
  • Increased bouts with illness
Continued lack of sleep can increase your risk for serious health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and mental illness, as well as increase the likelihood of workplace mistakes and car accidents. That’s why it’s so important to address sleep problems as quickly as possible with the aim of improving the length and quality of your sleep.

Drowsy Driving Safety Talk

There are many hazards we face today anytime we operate a motor vehicle. Weather, poor road conditions, and wildlife are some common hazards on the road today. There are also many hazards created by other drivers on the road. One very deadly activity that is taking place far too often is drowsy driving.

Drowsy Driving in the United States

In today’s world, many of us are busier than our parents’ or grandparents’ generations have been. Between long hours at work, kids, housework, school, and any other obligations we have, there is more fatigue and drowsiness in the general population than arguably ever before.

Because of our fast-paced lives, drowsy driving is a major concern on our roadways. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reported that an estimated 37,000 injury crashes and an estimated 45,000 property damage-only crashes occur annually related to drowsy driving. While general fatigue is a major cause of drowsy driving there are also several other causes.

Causes for Drowsy Driving
  • Lack of sleep- The amount of things we have going on in our lives can make it hard to get plenty of sleep.
  • Medical issues- Certain medical issues or health conditions can bring the onset of drowsiness even if a person has had plenty of sleep. One common example is thyroid issues.
  • Drugs/ alcohol- Drugs and alcohol on their own can cause an obvious hazard while driving. When they are paired with a lack of sleep or medical issues, it can be an extremely dangerous situation.

How to Avoid Drowsy Driving
  • Get plenty of sleep. Most experts recommend at least seven hours of sleep.
  • Eat a good diet and drink plenty of water. Taking care of your body is important to be able to function at optimal levels.
  • Consult your doctor for unusual or excessive fatigue. It could be a symptom of an underlying health issue.
  • Never drink and drive. Use caution even when only using prescribed medication. Many medications cause drowsiness.
  • Pull over when drowsiness is setting in. A ten-minute nap can make the difference in whether or not you make it to your destination.

Summary
Do not be a drowsy driver. Take the necessary precautions to avoid putting yourself in a dangerous situation. Pay attention to the drivers around you and practice defensive driving techniques to protect yourself from other drivers who may be driving drowsy.

Discussion point:
  • What other safe actions can we take to avoid drowsy driving?
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