California’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) cited a construction company after two of their employees contracted Valley Fever. Workers were digging trenches in Kings, Fresno and Merced counties where the soil is known to contain harmful spores that cause the fungal infection and the company did not do enough to protect workers from them.

Underground Construction Co., Inc. of Benicia, CA was cited after Cal/OSHA was notified last September that employees were hospitalized.

The workers were using hand tools to dig trenches that were up to 5 ½ feet deep. When the soil is disturbed by digging or high winds, the Valley Fever spores could become airborne and may be inhaled. The workers were not wearing respiratory protection and the dust was not controlled. Two employees were hospitalized with Valley Fever. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath and fever, and in some serious cases may even cause lung problems.

The company received three citations with $27,000 in proposed penalties. They failed to evaluate the hazard of performing digging work in areas known to contain the fungal spores, failed to control harmful dust and failed to provide employees with respiratory protection.

Cal/OSHA provided tips for reducing the risks of Valley Fever exposure such as determining if a worksite is in an area where spores might be present and then adopting work practices that minimize the disturbance of soil and maximize ground cover. Use water or other soil stabilizers to reduce airborne dust and if dust is unavoidable provide respiratory protection.

Read the press release from Cal/OSHA.