BLUEPRINTS BUILDERS TRUST

Affiliated with New Mexico Home Builders Association

2nd Quarter Edition

2013

Your newsletter for

quality workers’

compensation

information

Board of

Trustees

Rick Davis Chairman

Albuquerque

Kevin McGinley Secretary/Treasurer

Mesilla

Mark Carpenter Trustee - Clovis

John Jourdan Trustee - Hobbs

Wayne Rutherford Trustee -Taos

Lee Rawson Trustee - Las Cruces

Bob Dolgener Trustee - Ruidoso

Michael Drunzer Trustee - Alamogordo

Randy Crowder Trustee - Clovis

Tom Johns Advisor Trustee

Albuquerque

Pat Casey Ex-Officio Silver City

Jack Milarch Ex-Officio

Albuquerque

Builders Trust of New Mexico affiliated with New Mexico Home Builders Association

Hiring Teens for the Summer? Know the Rules!

This is the time of year we always get calls asking us “what are the rules for hiring teens

in the construction industry”. Here is the answer directly from the U.S. Department of La-

bor - Wage and Hour Division.

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYER’S QUICK GUIDE TO TEEN WORKER RULES

Minors under 16 years of age may only perform office or sales work in the construction

industry. They may not be employed on a construction site. The federal rules also limit

the number of hours and times of day that such youth may be employed.

Minors age 16 and 17 may work in the construction industry and on construction sites,

but there are several tasks or jobs that are deemed to be too hazardous for them to

perform, such as:

• Working in occupations involving the mixing, handling or transporting of explosive

compounds;

• Driving a motor vehicle or working as an outside helper (17 year olds may drive auto-

mobiles and trucks on an incidental and occasional basis if certain criteria are met);

• Riding on most construction elevators and operating or assisting in the operation of

cranes, hoists, forklifts, Bobcat loaders, front-end loaders, backhoes, and skid steer

loaders;

• Loading, operating, and unloading most trash compactors and balers;

• Operating power-driven woodworking machines and metal forming, punching, and

shearing machines—including portable machines;

• Operating power-driven circular saws, band saws, chain saws, reciprocating saws,

guillotine shears, wood chippers, and abrasive cutting discs—including portable

machines;

• Working in wrecking, demolition, and shipbreaking;

• Working in roofing and on or about a roof or working in excavation.

Note: This is not the complete list of hazardous occupations and there are some excep-

tions provided for 16 and 17 year olds who are apprentices and bona-fide student-

learners.

Minors age 18 and older may perform any work

in construction. New Mexico’s labor laws basical-

ly mirror federal requirements for teen workers.

This information is provided as a public service.

Please visit the U.S. Department of Labor on the

Internet at www.youthrules.dol.gov or contact

them at their Toll-Free Help Line 1-866-4US-

WAGE (TTY: 1-877-889-5627) for more detailed

information.

Inside this issue

1st Thought, Not Afterthought p2

Participant Manual p2

Distracted Driving p3

Scholarship Program Back

Builders Trust of New Mexico affiliated with New Mexico Home Builders Association

Blueprints - 2nd Quarter Edition www.builderstrust.com®

Safety Should Be Your First Thought, Not An Afterthought Recently we visited with a Participant who had several large claims. While reviewing their safety practices and discussing their individual claims, the Participant described an accident that took place and the safety procedures they have since implemented as a result of the accident. While taking steps to correct risks in the workplace once an accident has occurred is to be admired, it is equally important, if not more so, to take steps to prevent accidents before they occur. Be proactive and not reactive. By dealing with safety as an afterthought, the potential is there to expose your employees to undue risk which can cause accidents and in turn can also negatively impact your pocketbook in the form of higher premiums. Workers’ Compensation is a cost-plus business and when you have claims your Experience Modifier can be negatively impacted for a three-year period, which results in higher premiums. In the case above our Participant will be paying several thousand dollars in additional premium over the next three years. Here are some ways to invest in safety upfront.

· Ensure that you have regular safety meetings

· Involve your workers in regular site inspections

· Periodically review your safety plan/procedures & make sure they

are current and being practiced

· Make sure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is being properly used

· Be sure your field superintendents know safety is a company priority

Safety is everyone’s responsibility and investing time upfront will help minimize if not eliminate accidents. Be sure that safety is your first thought and not an afterthought.

2

If you would like the most current edition of the Builders Trust Participant Manual it is now available on our website at www.builderstrust.com. The manual is available for download in PDF format by logging into BT PAL and selecting “Help” in the upper right hand corner of the page. Valuable topics ranging from Personnel Policies and Guidelines to Field Safety, Claims Management, Payroll and Auditing functions can all be found in the updated Participant Manual. The procedures and guidelines contained in the Manual are specifically designed to help you with risk management and represent a key component in your ownership of the Build-ers Trust Self-Insurance Fund. If you prefer the Manual on CD, would like to get signed up for BT PAL or have any questions about our products or services please contact our Service Center at 800-640-3369 or 505-345-3477 and we’ll be happy to assist you. As a reminder, BT-PAL (Participant & Agent Link) is your internet access to a wide variety of Builders Trust information and services. For example, once you log on to BT PAL you can complete your monthly Payroll Reporting Forms, make a premium payment, and access reports to view your loss history and other claims data. At Builders Trust we deliver high tech services while maintaining that personal service our Participant/Owners have come to expect.

Participant Manual

Builders Trust of New Mexico affiliated with New Mexico Home Builders Association

Blueprints - 2nd Quarter Edition www.builderstrust.com® 3

DISTRACTED DRIVING Letter to Employers from the Assistant Secretary of OSHA - Reprinted

U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for

Occupational Safety and Health

Washington, D.C. 20210

October 4, 2010

Dear Employer:

Distracted driving has become an epidemic in the United States, and its often fatal consequences are a threat to your

workers, your business and the public.

Because millions of workers’ jobs require them to spend part or all of their work day driving ― visiting clients and

customers, making site visits, or delivering goods and services ― the Departments of Labor (DOL) and Transportation

(DOT) are joining forces in a campaign to stop distracted driving and save lives.

Year after year, the leading cause of worker fatalities is motor vehicle crashes. There’s no question that new communi-

cations technologies are helping business work smarter and faster. But getting work done faster does not justify the

dramatically increased risk of injury and death that comes with texting while driving.

The human toll is tragic. DOT reports that in 2009, more than 5,400 people died in crashes linked to distraction and

thousands more were injured. “Texting while driving” has become such a prominent hazard that 30 states now ban text

messaging for all drivers.

OSHA is partnering with others across government, industry and the public to bring together important information and

tools to attack texting while driving and other distracted driver hazards. We invite you to learn more about combating

this problem at www.osha.gov and at DOT’s distracted driving website, www.distraction.gov.

Most employers want to do the right thing and protect their workers, and some have already taken action to prohibit

texting while driving. It is your responsibility and legal obligation to create and maintain a safe and healthful workplace,

and that would include having a clear, unequivocal and enforced policy against the hazard of texting while driving.

Companies are in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act if, by policy or practice, they require texting

while driving, or create incentives that encourage or condone it, or they structure work so that texting is a practical

necessity for workers to carry out their job.

To combat the threat of distracted driving, we are prepared to act quickly. When OSHA receives a credible complaint

that an employer requires texting while driving or who organizes work so that texting is a practical necessity, we will

investigate and where necessary issue citations and penalties to end this practice.

I invite you to join us in observing "Drive Safely Work Week," October 4-8. During this week and throughout the year,

let’s work together to prevent workers from being injured and killed on the road.

David Michaels, PhD, MPH

Commentary: Even though this letter was written in 2010 it is as relevant today as it was then. As the summer

kicks into high gear contractors will be on the road more and need to be ever diligent in their driving habits in

order to avoid accidents. If you need to send or receive a text or call when driving be sure to pull off the road in

a safe area, out of traffic, before texting or making or receiving calls. Auto accidents can not only affect your

workers’ comp premiums but also your auto insurance premiums. More importantly, auto accidents kill. Make

sure your employees and others on the road get home safely each day.

Builders Trust of New Mexico

P.O. Box 91330

Albuquerque, NM 87199

www.builderstrust.com ®

PRST STD

US POSTAGE

PAID

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

PERMIT NO. 935

PLEASE ENJOY THIS COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE OF BT BLUEPRINTS

To find out how you can join Builders Trust of New Mexico AND receive the best value in workers’ compensation coverage for New Mexico Home Builders Association members, please contact us at

505-345-3477 or 1-800-640-3369

Eric Humble Scholarship Program

One of our Core Values at Builders Trust of New Mexico is “Focusing on our injured workers and facilitating their

successful return to work”. Unfortunately, this does not happen for everyone that is injured on the job. Serious injuries

can occur and they are devastating to a worker and his/her family. These injuries are not easily overcome and create

many life challenges. For some, the worst scenario happens and a loved one is lost. Because families are greatly

impacted by severe injuries Builders Trust created the Eric Humble Scholarship Program*, which helps the dependents

of severely-injured workers complete their post-high school education.

During the past 5 years Builders Trust has paid out $14,000 in scholarship funds to children of injured workers. Two

of the four recipients for the 2012 -2013 school year were sisters, Ondrea “Julie” and Jaleesa Pecos, of Jemez Pueblo.

Julie is attending New Mexico State University in Las Cruces pursuing an education in Computer Science and her

sister, Jaleesa, wrapped up her education at Carrington College last fall in the

Medical Assisting program. Julie and Jaleesa lost their father when he fell

from a structure and died as a result of his injuries. With a little help from you,

as participant owners of Builders Trust, Julie and Jaleesa did not lose their

chance for a college education.

In June of every year, Builders Trust notifies families that qualify for the

program and once scholarship applications are received, management submits

recommendations to the Board of Trustees for final approval. The Scholarship

program is just one additional way we endeavor to fulfill our Core Values in

“Focusing on our injured workers . . .“

*The Eric Humble Scholarship Program was named after Eric Humble,

longtime Builders Trust Field Safety Services Manager who passed away in

March of 2010.

Pictured above: Ondrea “Julie” & Jaleesa Pecos and Jack Milarch,

CEO Builders Trust