August 2025 Occupational Health Watch
August is Valley Fever Awareness Month!
California law mandates Valley fever training
California Labor Code 6709 (2020) requires construction employers who work in counties with high rates of Valley fever to train their employees on minimizing the risk of Valley fever by May 1 of each year. Employees should be trained before they begin outdoor work where they may be exposed to airborne dust.
People who work outdoors in California's Central Valley, Central Coast, and other locations, especially workers who dig or disturb soil, are at risk for Valley fever, an illness that can cause disability or even death.
Occupational Health Branch's recently updated resource, Valley Fever: Tailgate Training Guide for California Construction Workers (PDF), also in Spanish, Fiebre del Valle: Guía de capacitación para trabajadores de la construcción en California (PDF). It is an interactive, easy-to-use guide that supervisors, trainers, and health and safety staff can use to train employees. The guide covers the eight training topics required by the 2020 law and provides updated incidence rates of Valley fever by county.
For 2025, training is required for work in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Ventura Counties. Other counties may be added in the future depending on their rates of Valley fever illness as determined by the CDPH Infectious Diseases Branch.
Visit the OHB work-related Valley fever web page for updates on required training and other Valley fever resources.
Email OHW@cdph.ca.gov with feedback about this update or change of address.