Workplace air quality and its influence on occupational health policies: an HRM review

Workplace air quality is a critical yet underexplored determinant of occupational health, with significant implications for human resource management policy and practice. This review synthesises forty peer-reviewed studies and authoritative documents published between January 2018 and March 2026, examining the intersection of environmental management, occupational health and safety, and HR strategy. Three key themes are identified: green human resource management and environmental performance, occupational health systems focused on hazard mitigation, and integrative HR mechanisms for embedding air quality monitoring into organisational frameworks. Using a critical integrative synthesis approach, the study prioritises conceptual clarity and policy relevance. Findings reveal that green HRM emphasises behavioural and cultural change but pays limited attention to indoor air quality as a distinct health factor. In contrast, occupational health literature offers strong technical frameworks but rarely positions air quality as a strategic HR issue. The review concludes that effective integration requires HRM to promote pro-environmental behaviours while safeguarding employee health through evidence-based air quality management. Practical implications include cross-functional policy development, improved HR competencies in environmental health, and integrated monitoring systems linking air quality to workforce outcomes. Workplace air quality remains underexamined in HR policy. Green HRM prioritises behaviour over physical health risks. Occupational health frameworks treat air quality primarily as a technical compliance issue rather than a strategic HR concern. Integration requires strategic HR and health alignment. Monitoring systems can link air quality to performance outcomes.