New Mexico’s official “State Plan” is administered by the New Mexico Occupational Safety and Health Bureau (NM OSHB) under the New Mexico Environment Department, which the Secretary leads.
Not only does it covers all state and local government workers, but the state plan also applies to private-sector workplaces in the state, excluding the following:
- Maritime employment, including shipyard employment, marine terminals, and longshoring;
- Contract workers and contractor-operated facilities engaged in United States Postal Service (USPS) mail operations;
- Enforcement of occupational safety and health standards at all private sector establishments on military facilities and bases, including but not limited to Kirkland Air Force Base, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, White Sands Missile Range Military Reservation, Holloman Air Force Base, Cannon Air Force Base, Fort Wingate Military Reservation, Fort Bayard Veterans’ Hospital, Albuquerque Veterans’ Hospital, Santa Fe National Cemetery;
- Enforcement of occupational safety and health standards, to the extent permitted by applicable law, over tribal or private sector employment within any Indian reservation and lands under the control of a tribal government;
- Enforcement of occupational safety and health standards concerning employment at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Western Area Power Administration site at Elephant Butte; and
- All working conditions of aircraft cabin crew members onboard aircraft in operation.
All OSHA regulations about state, local, and employer operations in the private sector have been accepted by NM OSHA and are incorporated by reference. Thus, there is no difference between the national and state norms. NM OSHA has also implemented the following distinctive standards:
General Industry
- State and Local Government Firefighting
- Workplace Violence in Convenience Stores
- Hazard Communication
Construction
- Hazard Communication
Agriculture
- Field Sanitation
- Short-Handled Hoes
- First Aid
- Hazard Communication
In New Mexico, most construction employers favor OSHA 30-Hour certified staff over untrained labor. It is encouraged for workers who are interested in management or supervisory positions in the construction industry to register for online OSHA 30-Hour Training in New Mexico because the course OSHA30Construction includes important safety subjects relevant to job operations.
