OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH BRANCH

Large dump truck on a dusty worksite; text: Dusty work increases Valley fever risk

Preventing Work-Related Valley Fever

Valley fever, also called Coccidioidomycosis or “cocci,” is an illness caused by a fungus found in the soil in many parts of California, especially the Central Valley and Central Coast. For some, it can be serious and even fatal. People who inhale fungal spores released when the soil is disturbed, may get Valley fever.

Construction workers and others who work outdoor are at risk for Valley fever, especially if they dig or disturb soil, operate heavy machinery, or work under windy conditions. A California law, AB 203 of 2019, requires construction employers who work in counties with high rates of Valley fever to train their employees on minimizing the risk of Valley fever (PDF) annually.

The Occupational Health Branch (OHB) has investigated Valley fever outbreaks in worker groups and has developed recommendations for preventing work-related Valley fever.

Valley fever and COVID-19 share many of the same symptoms, including fever, cough, fatigue, and body aches. If a worker is experiencing these symptoms, they should isolate themselves from others, report it to their employer, and contact a health care provider right away. Laboratory tests are needed to know whether symptoms are caused by COVID-19 or Valley fever. Valley fever is usually diagnosed using a blood test, while the lab test for COVID-19 uses a respiratory sample from the nose or throat.

August is Valley Fever Awareness Month!
Get involved! Find out how you can prevent Valley fever!

The Valley fever fungus can infect people who work or dig outdoors in certain areas in California, including wildland firefighters digging and moving soil to control fires.
Fire safety crews working in California should learn about Valley fever and know the symptoms, which sometimes appear weeks after exposure to dust outdoors. If left untreated, the infection can lead to serious illness.

Learn more: Valley Fever | Groups at Risk | Symptoms | Resources for Outdoor Workers & Employers

Posters and fact sheets for the workplace

Beware of Dusty Air (PDF) - awareness poster
Are You at Risk for Valley Fever? (PDF) - informational poster
Valley Fever Could Be Where You Work (PDF) - worker fact sheet
Valley Fever Facts for Employers (PDF) - employer fact sheet
Beware of Dusty Air (PDF) - wallet card for workers
Outdoor Workers and Valley Fever poster (PDF) | Large poster (PDF) | Order printed posters – bilingual English/Spanish poster, 2016
Preventing Work-Related Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) (PDF) – fact sheet, 2013
Report Valley Fever Symptoms (PDF) – poster, 2013

Collage of various factsheets and posters wtih worker and Valley fever info

Webinars and trainings

UPDATED! Preventing Work-Related Valley Fever in Wildland Firefighting (PDF) – tailgate training, July 2022
VALLEY FEVER: Tailgate Training Guide for California Construction Workers (PDF) | Spanish – short, interactive training guide that covers AB 203 required worker training elements, March 2020
Preventing Valley Fever in Outdoor Workers – 1-hour webinar for employers and planners of outdoor projects and supervisors of workers who perform digging or other dust disturbing activities in areas where Valley fever is common. February 2020
View webinar | Download video (MP4, 225 MB) | Presentation s lides (PDF)
Preventing Valley Fever in Construction Workers - 1-hour webinar for construction employers and health and safety professionals, 2018. Note: This presentation does NOT cover AB 203 of 2019 worker training requirements.
Presentation slides (PDF) | Recorded webinar presentation (password required: VFeverAug21)