An engineering and manufacturing company based in Tijeras is facing more than $12,000 in state fines after a workplace safety inspection uncovered multiple safety violations that exposed workers to flying shrapnel and put them in danger of being caught in moving machine parts. According to records from the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Occupational Health […]
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Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, Pueblos
Cheese plant gas leak hospitalizes 14 workers
A major chemical accident at a local cheese plant that led to the hospitalization of more than a dozen workers has landed a local company in hot water with the state. Last month, the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB) cited Southwest Cheese Company for five serious violations following a […]
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy
Dental office fined for vaccine refusal documentation, training lapse
A Sunland dental practice was recently penalized by the state after inspectors found that employee training on bloodborne pathogens wasn’t up-to-date, and the company failed to document that an employee had declined a vaccine. According to state records, some Sunland Dental employees failed to complete the state-required annual bloodborne pathogen training. The training is done […]
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy
Las Cruces firm accused of defrauding veterans
A lawsuit against a Las Cruces-based company for deceptive practices and illegal business operations is gaining steam as state prosecutors look for more victims. In April, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) and Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit in Las Cruces against Disabled Veterans Consultants, Inc. (DVC) for unlawfully charging veterans for […]
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy
Nursing home sued for age discrimination
A federal civil rights agency recently filed a lawsuit against an Albuquerque-based local nursing facility, alleging that it discriminated against older workers, subjected them to harassment and then retaliated against employees after they raised concerns. The lawsuit, filed in June by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against South Valley Care Center, claims that […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News
Wind tower worker injured
A leading wind tower company is facing steep penalties after an improperly secured hook injured an employee. Arcosa Wind Towers, a Texas-based wind tower manufacturer with a plant in Belen, was hit with a $14,898 penalty in May for an incident that happened in November 2024. The company specializes in constructing steel towers and their […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News
Gallup worker’s burns prompt state to ask if cell phone sparked flammable vapor fire
An interstate trucking company is under fire for an incident involving flammable vapor ignition that resulted in a serious employee injury. Bulk Trans Inc., an interstate freight carrier based out of Gallup, received a $2,980 penalty from the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Occupational Health and Safety Bureau in May. The fine is the result […]
Posted inNM.news
Albuquerque Bans Hemp-Based THC
In a historic move, Albuquerque passed a city ordinance to ban hemp-derived THC, making it the first municipality in the state to do so. Most cannabis industry stakeholders are applauding the ban, but some insiders say it could inadvertently strengthen the illicit cannabis market. The Intoxicating Hemp Products Ordinance, sponsored by Councilor Dan Lewis, bans […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness
Hospice caught with its mask off
A local hospice is facing penalties after forcing its employees to wear respirators without providing a medical evaluation first. According to state records, inspectors discovered in April that Luna Del Valle Hospice in Albuquerque failed to conduct medical evaluations by a licensed practitioner that are required to ensure that employees could safely wear N95 respirators. […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Westside Albuquerque
Vermin trouble at Santa Fe school
A local school is facing a fate worse than detention after state inspectors found signs of a mouse infestation. The discovery may leave teachers and parents stunned, as concerns over Hantavirus have been haunting the headlines in recent months. According to a citation from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), state inspectors made the unpleasant […]