EVERYTHING EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VALLEY FEVER

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Everything employees need to know about Valley Fever

When working in areas with high risk for Valley Fever, there are certain precautions employees should know.

Dust Exposure.  Construction and agriculture workers are at a higher risk for contracting Valley Fever because of their work conditions.  There is a high rate of airborne dust exposure in these occupations.  It is important for employers to include measures on how to reduce dust exposure in the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).

The risk of digging.  When an occupation requires digging, it increases the risk of Valley Fever exposure.  Coccidioides fungus only takes seconds to become airborne once the dirt it is in is disturbed, as it lives in the top 2-12 inches of soil.  It is very likely to be released when digging starts.  Since there is no reliable way to test for Valley Fever (according to the California Department of Public Health -CDPH), employees should work under the assumption that Coccidioides is present in the soil and take precautions. 

Don’t hesitate to get treatment -Since Valley Fever symptoms are similar to other common illnesses, it often does not get diagnosed and treatment is delayed as a result.  The CDPH recommends that anyone who works in an area where Valley Fever exposure is high, report any potential symptoms to a supervisor as well as get treatment from a physician.

TAP Series offers Valley Fever Training to not only train your employees on Valley Fever but document employee training in your TAP account.  Course certificates can be reprinted anytime.  The self-paced course allows your employees to train on their schedule and is available in English and Spanish.  TAP’s system allows you to reenroll employees quickly for annual reviews or into new courses.