Bureau of Mine Safety July 2015 Newsletter 1
July 2015 Newsletter Guest Column
Sandra D Melman has a Mas-
ter's degree in Molecular Para-
sitology from the University of
New Mexico, and has been a
zoonotic diseases epidemiolo-
gist with the New Mexico De-
partment of Health since June of
2011. Her duties include zoono-
tic disease surveillance, preven-
tion and control for the state of
NM, including investigation of
all human and pet cases of
plague, all human cases of hantavirus, arboviral diseas-
es like West Nile virus, and tick-borne diseases. She
serves as a liaison between Department of Health and
public health stake holders in the state, and has done
numerous public presentations, public education and
community outreach activities, including television ap-
pearances and radio interviews. Ms. Melman has pub-
lished in numerous prestigious peer-reviewed scientific
journals, and has participated in national and interna-
tional conferences.
Insect and rodent borne diseases
in New Mexico
If you are working long hours outdoors in New
Mexico, chances are you will encounter insect bites
(mosquitoes and fleas) and rodents (or their feces) at
some point in your career. New Mexico has numerous
species of rodents and insects that can carry and trans-
mit diseases with serious health consequences.
One of the mosquito borne diseases to be aware of
in New Mexico is West Nile virus. Since 2003 there
have been between 4 and 209 human cases of West
Nile virus in the state each year. West Nile virus dis-
ease can cause mild illness (headache, fever, muscle
aches, nausea, and fatigue) that can last from weeks to
several months or more severe disease in a small per-
centage of people including neurologic illness
(meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis) and even death.
People 50 years of age or older and those with un-
derlying health conditions are at higher risk of develop-
ing severe disease. The virus is transmitted by several
species of mosquitoes in New Mexico that typically
bite at dusk and dawn. There is no specific treatment or
vaccine for humans for West Nile virus, hence preven-
tion is the key. Personal protective measures (use of an
appropriate insect repellent, wearing skin-protective
clothing with long sleeves, staying indoors during peak
hours of mosquito activity, eliminating standing water
where mosquitoes can lay their eggs from around your
home, and making sure all doors and windows have
screens in good working condition) go a long way in
protecting you and your family from mosquito bites
and the diseases they can carry.
Rodents in New Mexico play an important role in dis-
ease transmission of two very serious illnesses, hanta-
virus pulmonary syndrome and plague.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a disease caused by
a virus that is transmitted to humans by inhalation of
viral particles present in the feces and urine of the com-
mon deer mouse. Every year there are about 2-5 cases
of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in New Mexico.
This disease causes severe pneumonia and decreased
heart output. Up to 40% of those infected do not sur-
vive. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for han-
tavirus pulmonary syndrome. As with West Nile virus,
the best defense is prevention. When you have to enter
an enclosed area that is infested by rodents and their
(Continued on page 2)
Bureau of Mine Safety July 2015 Newsletter 2
July 2015 Newsletter
feces it is best to try and air out the space for at least 30
minutes before entering and then try to avoid stirring up
dirt or dust in order to avoid inhaling the excreted viral
particles.
Regular dust masks are not adequate protection. An N-95
rated mask or better should be used, but only after medi-
cal clearance and fit testing. Spraying down the soiled
area with a disinfectant (a 10% bleach solution or com-
mercial products will work) will help to kill the virus and
prevent infection.
Plague is a bacterial disease that circulates among rabbits
and rodents (including prairie dogs, squirrels, rats, and
mice) and their fleas. People usually get exposed to the
plague bacteria when they
are bitten by an infected
flea, or by direct contact
with the tissues of an in-
fected animal (such as a
hunter skinning an infect-
ed rabbit without wearing
gloves). Pet dogs and cats
that are allowed to roam
and hunt can also become
infected and pass the dis-
ease on to people or bring
infected fleas back into
the home.
Plague usually starts with
an acute onset of high fe-
ver, malaise, nausea, body aches and headaches. Some-
times there is an enlarged and very painful lymph node.
Antibiotics can be effective if administered early in the
course of the disease. The best prevention is to avoid flea
(Continued from page 1) bites and direct contact with sick animals.
When working or enjoying the outdoors in New Mexico
it’s always good to use an approved insect repellent
(products containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eu-
calyptus, and IR3535 can be bought over the counter)
and follow label instructions, avoid sick wildlife and
rodent burrows, eliminate rodent food and shelter
around your home, do not allow pets to freely roam and
hunt, and use a flea control product recommended by
your veterinarian on your pets.
Prevention is the key to good health. Be safe
out there.
More information of these and other diseases people can
get from animals and insects can be found on the New
Mexico Department of Health’s website at: http://
nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/zdp/
2016 New Mexico
Mine Health and Safety Conference
Planning meeting:
July 31st
Roswell, NM.
Exhibitor and
Publications Chair Needed.
The planning committee welcomes participa-
tion from all New Mexico miners. For direc-
tions to the meeting or for more information,
please call Randy Logsdon at 575-234-3622
Bureau of Mine Safety July 2015 Newsletter 3
July 2015 Newsletter
DESIGN A HARD HAT STICKER AND WIN A
WELSH MINER’S LAMP
OLD DESIGN
The New Mexico Bureau of Mine Safety certifies coal mine officials in New Mexico for Surface Foreman,
Underground Foreman and Underground Examiner. Successful candidates receive a certificate and a wallet
card. In addition, we like to give a hard hat sticker to certified officials.
We want one design to represent both surface and underground officials. It could show equipment used by
foremen/examiners, a person performing the task, equipment at both types of operations, etc.
The design must include the following words: NM State Mine Inspector Coal Mine Certified
Sticker shape: designer’s choice
Sticker size: must fit in an area approximately 2.125” x 2.125” and be clearly legible.
Submit design in JPG format to [email protected], no later than July 15, 2015.
Call Suzanne at 575-835-5460 if you have any questions.
WIN THIS!
Your Winning
Design Here!
Bureau of Mine Safety July 2015 Newsletter 4
July 2015 Newsletter
NEW MEXICO MINING SAFETY BOARD
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND HEARING
The New Mexico Mining Safety Board (“MSB”) hereby
gives notice that the MSB will conduct a public meeting
and hearing in the Auditorium of the District 3 Offices of
the New Mexico Department of Transportation, 7500
Pan American Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico
87109, on Wednesday, September 9, beginning at 1:00
p.m. The purpose of the public hearing will be to obtain
input on proposed amendments to 19.6.2 NMAC
(Emergency Notification).
Interested individuals may provide comments at the pub-
lic hearing or submit written comments to Terence Fore-
back via email at [email protected], fax at (575)
835-5430, or directed to Terence Foreback, State Mine
Inspector, Bureau of Mine Safety, 801 Leroy Place, So-
corro, NM 87801. Written comments must be received
no later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the hearing. At the
conclusion of the hearing, the MSB may deliberate and
vote on the proposed amendments.
Copies of the proposed amendments are available on the
Bureau of Mine Safety website (http://bmi.state.nm.us)
under the “Mining Safety Board” menu or may be ob-
tained from Bureau of Mine Safety Records Liaison Of-
ficer Suzanne Barteau by calling (575) 835-5460 or
emailing [email protected].
Individuals with disabilities who require this information
in an alternative format or need any form of auxiliary aid
to attend or participate in the public hearing are asked to
contact Terence Foreback at (575) 835-5460 as soon as
possible. The MSB requires at least 48 hours advance
notice to provide special accommodations.
Notes from the 2015
Joseph A. Holmes Assoc. National Meeting
Presentation on Task Training
In the 15-month period from October 2013 to January
2015, there were 37 Metal/Nonmetal fatalities. Of the 28
investigations into those deaths that have been complet-
ed so far, 11 have cited Lack of Adequate Task Training
as a root cause or contributing factor. From the presenta-
tion on Task Training by MSHA EFS Specialist Debbie
Combs, here is something to keep in mind: in an MSHA
investigation, the absence of written Safe Operating Pro-
cedures is like a red flag. If you don’t have written Safe
Operating Procedures, you can expect the investigator to
find that the requirement for Adequate Task Training has
not been met.
When Lack of Adequate Task Training is identified as a
contributing factor in a fatality, the causes can include: a
lack of understanding of requirements, a lack of written
instructions, a lack of a written training program, and
failure to provide training for the people who train on
tasks. Your training plan, Combs said, should include as
much detail as possible and should have a complete list
of task assignments, with the title of the person conduct-
ing the task training, a description of the training proce-
dures, a description of the evaluation methods, and a list
of instructional materials for use by the trainer as a
guide. The key takeaway here is: Document Everything.
Without a documented training plan and training materi-
als, what trainees typically get is unstructured time with
someone who’s done the job, also known as “following
Joe around,” Combs said. Even with the best of inten-
tions, this leads to a lot of variability on how a task is
performed. To be effective, you need to be aware of the
difference between structured and unstructured training.
Guidelines for effective task training also include doing
pre-assessments, breaking tasks down into steps, provid-
ing checklists, allowing sufficient time for learning, and
doing post-assessments to evaluate how well the trainee
learned the task.
To help with task training procedures, MSHA has creat-
ed an interactive online tool here. Also, the new MSHA
Training Center has samples of 50+ Job Task Analyses
(JTAs) for both coal and M/NM, On-the-Job training
modules that can be used as a starting point for your op-
eration, and Best Practices Cards.
~Suzanne Barteau
Bureau of Mine Safety July 2015 Newsletter 5
July 2015 Newsletter
ATTENTION MINE OPERATORS AND CONTRACTORS!
Now is your chance to recognize your hardworking employees for their outstanding safety performance! Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 New Mexico Mine Safety Awards, which will be pre-sented jointly by the New Mexico Mining Association and the New Mexico Bureau of Mine Safety on Thursday, September 10, 2015, at the New Mexico Mining Association Convention.
The period for the awards is from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. There are four categories:
Safe Operator of the Year Zero Frequency Safety Innovator
Rescue Response Award
Click HERE for the 2015 Award Nomination Forms and Information. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Terence Foreback at (575) 835-5458 or Randy Logsdon at (575) 234-3622.
Forms must be completed and forwarded to the New Mexico Bureau of Mine Safety and to the Chair, NMMA Safe-ty Committee for receipt by August 7, 2015. The addresses are at the end of each form. A PDF of the applications is preferred and would be appreciated. Please send a separate PDF document for each award category.
Notification to the organizations receiving awards will be made before August 21, 2015, to ensure that a repre-sentative from that organization can be recognized at the Safety Award Luncheon on September 10, 2015. To reg-ister for the convention, you may contact the New Mexico Mining Association at (505) 820-6662 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Registration and a $50 fee are required for each person attending the awards luncheon.
Announcing the 2015 New Mexico Mine Safety Awards!
The New Mexico Bureau of Mine Safety
Wishes You and Your Family a
HAPPY 4th of JULY !!
Please remember to be SAFE,
especially with fireworks.
Toolbox Talks with your employees should be held
prior to the extended weekend.
RAPPING FIREFIGHTERS VIDEO NFPA FIREWORKS PSA