Occupational safety and health: Valley Fever.
The law applies to construction firms located in areas where the incidence of Valley Fever exceeds 20 cases per 100,000 individuals annually. The legislation aims to mitigate health risks for workers engaged in dust-disturbing activities by ensuring they are educated about the dangers of Valley Fever. The required training can be integrated into existing safety programs, helping to formalize and standardize safety practices across affected industries.
Assembly Bill 203, authored by Salas, focuses on enhancing occupational safety and health standards in California, specifically addressing the risks associated with Valley Fever, a disease caused by a fungus found in certain soils. The bill mandates that construction employers operating in counties identified as highly endemic for Valley Fever provide annual training for employees about the disease, including its transmission, risk factors, prevention methods, and the significance of early detection and medical intervention.
Overall, the response to AB 203 has been supportive, especially among public health advocates who view the training requirement as a necessary step to protect vulnerable workers from occupational hazards. Critics, however, express concerns over the potential burden this places on small businesses, particularly regarding compliance costs and the training implementation logistics.
One notable point of contention is the provision stating that the training is not required during the first year a county is designated as highly endemic, which some argue could delay necessary protections for workers. Furthermore, the legislation clarifies that no reimbursements are mandated for local agencies and school districts for the associated costs, which has raised questions about financial implications for broader local health agencies.