Workplace exposure to hazardous chemicals remains one of the most significant occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges globally. Rapid industrialization, economic growth, and technological innovation have led to an increase in the number and variety of chemicals used across industries. Today, chemical exposure is no longer limited to traditionally high-risk sectors such as mining, manufacturing, or chemical processing. Workers across agriculture, construction, healthcare, transportation, and many other sectors may encounter hazardous substances as part of their daily work.
To manage these risks, occupational safety and health systems traditionally rely on the ‘hierarchy of controls,’ a framework that prioritizes eliminating or substituting hazardous chemicals, followed by engineering controls, administrative measures, and personal protective equipment (PPE). While these interventions are essential for reducing exposure, they do not eliminate the impact of hazardous chemicals on the human body.
Emerging evidence highlights an important but often overlooked factor in chemical safety: nutrition.
The effects of chemical exposure are influenced not only by the nature and level of exposure but also by the body’s ability to defend, adapt, and recover. This capacity varies among individuals and is strongly influenced by nutritional status. Adequate nutrition supports immune function, metabolic regulation, tissue repair, and the body’s natural detoxification processes. Energy, protein, essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants all play critical roles in maintaining physiological resilience against occupational hazards.
When workers have access to nutritious diets and adequate nutrient intake, they are better equipped to cope with workplace stressors, including exposure to hazardous chemicals. Conversely, poor nutrition can increase vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, potentially amplifying the effects of occupational exposures and undermining worker health, safety, and productivity.
Recognizing nutrition as a complementary component of occupational health and safety presents an opportunity to strengthen worker protection. By integrating nutrition into workplace health strategies and chemical hazard prevention efforts, employers, policymakers, and occupational health professionals can support a more holistic approach to worker wellbeing, resilience, and long-term health outcomes.
Read the full report to explore the growing evidence linking nutrition and chemical exposure in the world of work.