Internship – Chemical Substances Management
About this role
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Missing or outdated SDS documentation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.