John Ho was quoted in SHRM discussing how employers can prepare their employees for the uncomfortable conditions they may face with the summer heat while wearing a mask due to the pandemic. "Existing heat illness prevention programs can be tailored to the unique issues of working during the COVID-19 pandemic," said John. He noted that these pandemic-related issues include:

• The use of face coverings that can inhibit the body's normal way of reducing heat, such as sweating, and make breathing difficult.
• Employees assigned longer shifts in the heat to catch up on work slowed down by shutdowns or other pandemic-related reasons.
• Skipping heat acclimatization for new or returning workers.
• Increased physical activity if employees must do more than their usual job tasks due to social distancing requirements.
• Loss of the body's natural adaptation to heat when employees have been off work more than a week.

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