Internship Assignment: Chemical Substances Management

Duration: 6 months (Full-time)

Department: Environment, Safety & Health (EHS) / Business Engineering / Production

About the Internship

At Frencken, our factories use a wide range of chemical substances, including cleaning agents, solvents, coatings, and adhesives. To strengthen control over chemical usage, storage, safety, and compliance, we are working to establish and complete COSHH documentation (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) for all applicable substances.

As an intern, you will play an important role in a company-wide Hazardous Material Management improvement program that is part of this year's Hoshin Kanri objectives. You will work closely with colleagues from EHS, Production, Production Engineering, Quality, and Business Excellence to help create a safer, more structured, and compliant working environment.

Objective

The objective of this internship is to create a structured, complete, and practical foundation for hazardous material control by:

• Building and completing COSHH documentation for substances currently used on-site

• Improving hazardous material management through on-site analysis and data-driven recommendations

• Delivering practical and implementable advice aligned with the broader Hoshin Kanri program

Your Responsibilities

A. Inventory & Classification

• Identify chemical substances used in production, maintenance, warehouses, and laboratories

• Consolidate information from ERP purchasing lists, warehouse locations, production lines, and SDS archives

• Create a comprehensive master list including:

  • Product name

  • Supplier

  • Internal item code

  • Storage locations

  • Usage process

  • Quantities

  • Hazard classifications

B. COSHH Documentation Completion

For each substance, or a prioritized group of substances, you will:

• Collect or request Safety Data Sheets (SDS) from suppliers

• Extract relevant information regarding:

  • Hazards

  • Exposure risks

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Storage requirements

  • Incompatibilities

  • Emergency measures

• Prepare COSHH assessments including:

  • Intended use and exposure scenarios

  • Existing control measures

  • Residual risk evaluations

  • Recommended improvement actions

• Validate assessments with EHS and relevant process owners

C. Risk Hotspots & Gap Analysis

• Identify gaps such as:

  • Missing or outdated SDS documentation

  • Incorrect storage practices

  • Unknown ownership

  • Uncontrolled usage

  • Incompatible storage

  • Missing labels

  • Unclear disposal procedures

• Prioritize findings using a structured approach

• Translate findings into improvement proposals using the Hierarchy of Controls methodology

D. Practical Recommendations & Implementation Support

Develop recommendations related to:

• Chemical approval and introduction processes

• Documentation ownership and governance

• Storage and segregation practices

• Labeling standards and workplace instructions

• Training and awareness initiatives

In addition, you will create an implementation package consisting of templates, checklists, workflow proposals, and recommended next steps.

What We Are Looking For

Education

You are currently studying:

• MBO or HBO Chemistry

• Chemical Science

• Applied Science

• Safety Studies

• Or a related field

Skills & Interests

• Interested in safety, compliance, and practical improvement projects

• Comfortable working in a factory environment and engaging with operators

• Structured and detail-oriented

• Able to analyze information and formulate clear conclusions

• Strong communication skills

Bonus Skills

• Experience with COSHH or structured documentation

• Knowledge of hazardous substance legislation

• Interest in continuous improvement methodologies

Guidance & Support

You will report to the Director of Business Excellence and receive day-to-day guidance from the Safety Officer and Business Engineer.

Regular feedback sessions and progress reviews will be scheduled to ensure you receive the support needed to successfully complete the assignment and gain valuable hands-on experience in chemical safety, compliance, and operational improvement.