Internship – Chemical Substances Management

Frencken Europe B.V.; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 10,044 - 14,508; Full time

Job summary

Frencken Europe B.V. invites an enthusiastic student to join our Hazardous Material Management initiative across EHS, Production and Quality.

The internship focuses on establishing COSHH documentation for on-site substances and delivering practical improvement recommendations within our Hoshin Kanri program. You will work with EHS, Production Engineering, Quality and Business Excellence to build a safe, compliant and structured work environment, paired with hands-on experience in chemical safety

Qualifications

• Pursuing studies in a relevant field such as MBO/HBO Chemistry, Chemical Science, Applied Science or Safety Studies.
• Interest in safety, compliance and practical improvement projects.
• Willingness to work in a factory environment and engage with operators.
• Structured, detail-oriented and able to analyze information.
• Strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify chemical substances used in production, maintenance, warehouses and labs.
• Collect SDS from suppliers and prepare COSHH assessments with controls.
• Identify gaps in SDS, storage, ownership, and labeling; prioritize findings.
• Develop implementation templates and workflow proposals for improvements.

Skills

Safety & compliance

Factory environment

Structured & detail-oriented

Analytical thinking

Strong communication

Education

MBO/HBO Chemistry

Chemical Science

Applied Science

Safety Studies

Job description

Internship Assignment

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

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, 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
  • Create an implementation package consisting of templates, checklists, workflow proposals, and recommended next steps

What We Are Looking For

Education

You are currently studying one of the following:

• 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.