Air Aware: a theory-driven, co-designed air quality communication campaign to promote health protective behaviors among outdoor workers

Outdoor workers face increasing health risks from air pollution, however most public health guidance emphasizes moving indoors, a strategy often unavailable to this workforce. This field report describes the co-design, implementation, and early evaluation of Air Aware, a workplace health communication campaign developed with outdoor workers in Fort Collins, Colorado. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and informed by worker insights on needs, routines, and organizational constraints, the campaign promoted feasible protective behaviors to support daily decision-making. Messages were tailored to resonate with workers’ values and were delivered through print and digital materials embedded in the workplace. Early evaluation indicated improved attitudes and social norms for several behaviors, though structural barriers and low hazard salience may have limited perceived control and behavioral intention. Findings underscore the value of integrating behavioral theory with co-design to advance workplace health communication and offer actionable strategies for adapting risk messaging to occupational contexts.