Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1439659.015 - Riverside County Coroners Bureau

Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office

Investigation Summary

On September 12, 2019, an employee was part of a team along with 10 coworkers from 4 different agencies tasked with the excavation of human remains in a remote area. The team was formed by a County Coroner's Bureau which included 3 Deputy Coroners, a Coroner Technician, a Coroner Sergeant, a Forensic Anthropologist along with 4 County Sheriff's Department staff (Investigator Detectives and Forensic Technicians). The team cleared a path to access the area by cutting brush with a knife. The employee marked the area to be excavated with paint and the team began the excavation using shovels, trowels, brushes, brooms and dust pans. The employee also sifted through the dirt looking for more remains and/or evidence. None of the team members, including the employee, wore a respirator and they did not follow biological hazards prevention measures. They were not aware the area was contaminated with the Coccidioides fungus that causes Valley Fever. At 1:48 a.m. on September 24, 2019, the employee was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Valley Fever. On September 27, 2019, the employee was discharged from the hospital. Six of the employee's coworkers had also developed Valley Fever. Three of those coworkers did not develop symptoms. The employee was the only one hospitalized.

Keywords: Air Contamination, Contaminated, Dust Inhalation, Excavation, Illness, Inhalation, Lung, Misjudgment, Misjudgment of Hazardous Situation, PPE, PPE Hazard Assessment, Respirator, Respiratory, Respiratory Tract