I looked up Cal/OSHA's Valley Fever safety information program, which is more of an informative guide for employers than an actual program.
I didn't know what Valley Fever was so I was interested to find out. Valley Fever is caused by a microscopic fungus called
Coccidiodes immitis and lives in the top 12 inches of soil. When soil is distributed by digging, driving, or high winds, fungal spores can become airborne and be inhaled by workers. Work-related cases of Valley Fever at solar installation plants in the Central Valley have become a health risk for workers.
The page mentions how Valley Fever can be prevented, what activities increase the risk of Valley Fever and what employers need to do when workers report symptoms of Valley Fever symptoms. What is evidently lacking from this information guide is a description of what the symptoms are so employers can look out for and inform their employees.
I had no idea what valley fever was until your post! It's so scary how many illnesses we're exposed to from poor soil quality, especially in areas like the valley that rely so heavily on agriculture jobs.
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