COVID-19 Guidance on the Use of Cloth Face 

Coverings while Working Outdoors in Hot and 

Humid Conditions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA generally recommends that 

employers encourage workers to wear cloth face coverings at work 

to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, workers who 

wear cloth face coverings in hot and humid environments or while 

performing strenuous activities outdoors, such as those in 

agriculture, landscaping, construction, delivery services, and oil and 

gas operations, can find cloth face coverings to be uncomfortable.

Employers should follow the below practices to 

protect against the spread of COVID-19 and the 

risk of heat-related illness:

 Acclimatize new and returning workers to 

environmental and work conditions while 

wearing cloth face coverings. 

 Prioritize the use of cloth face coverings

when workers are in close contact with 

others (less than 6 feet), such as during group 

travel or shift meetings. 

 Allow workers to remove cloth face coverings 

when they can safely maintain at least 6 feet 

of physical distance from others. 

 Evaluate the feasibility of wearing cloth 

face coverings for each worker and 

consider alternatives (e.g., face shields) 

when appropriate. 

 Increase the frequency of hydration and rest 

breaks in shaded, non-enclosed, or air 

conditioned areas.

 Incorporate at least 6 feet of physical 

distancing into break areas by staggering 

breaks, spacing workers, and limiting the 

number of workers on break at a time, 

where feasible. 

Photo: USDA
 Allow workers to return to personal vehicles 

during breaks to use air conditioning, when 

possible. Multiple workers should generally 

not return to the same car.

 If fans are used, avoid directing the fan so it 

pushes air over multiple people at the same 

time, since fans may increase the distance 

respiratory droplets can travel. 

 Encourage workers to use cloth face 

coverings that optimize fit and comfort, are 

made out of breathable, moisture-wicking 

materials, and use light colors when working 

in direct sunlight. 

 Encourage workers to change cloth face 

coverings when wet, as wet face coverings 

make it more difficult to breathe and are not 

as effective. Provide clean replacement cloth 

face coverings or disposable face masks, as 

needed, for workers to change into 

throughout the work shift. 

 Ensure workers use handwashing facilities or 

hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol 

often, as heat or moisture build-up may 

cause workers to put on and take off cloth 

face coverings frequently. 

 Avoid scheduling strenuous tasks during the 

hottest parts of the day and alter work shifts 

to cooler parts of the day, when possible.

 Allow workers to wear personal passive 

cooling items (e.g., icepack vests, cooling 

bandanas) and loose-fitting and breathable 

clothes, as long as these items do not present 

a safety hazard. 

 Plan for heat emergencies and train workers

on heat stress prevention and treatment.

 Increase the frequency of communication to 

workers and encourage workers to monitor 

themselves and others for signs of heat illness.

Note: Cloth face coverings should not be used as 

a substitute for engineering and administrative 

controls, safe work practices, or necessary 

personal protective equipment (PPE). 

For interim guidance and other resources on 

protecting workers from COVID-19, visit OSHA’s 

COVID-19 webpage. 

For guidance and other resources on protecting 

workers from heat stress, visit OSHA’s 

occupational heat exposure webpage. 

For guidance on heat illness prevention during 

the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention’s webpages for 

workers and employers.

For the latest information on the symptoms, 

prevention, and treatment of COVID-19, visit the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s

COVID-19 webpage. 

For the latest information on masks, visit the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 

COVID-19 and masks webpage.

For the latest information on COVID-19 in 

the workplace, visit the National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and Health’s 

COVID-19 webpage. 