Internship – Chemical Substances Management

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Missing or outdated SDS documentation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.