Environmental Health and Safety Review

II thoroughly enjoyed my internship as I gained a lot of knowledge about the Aviation Industry and I have been involved in a variety of different projects that has enhanced my experience. I have extended and developed many skills including emotional intelligence, project management, team work and organisational skills which will be very beneficial for a Graduate position in the future.

In the Office, we all contribute something with the Environmental, Health and Safety Department. Even though it may be the minimal jobs for example inspections, audits, data analysis and risk assessment it helps the Department when we get busy. I help each of the members with the small jobs for example updating chemical documents, making posters, leaflets to promote the EHS messages to ease the work load off other team members.

Each month, I have One to One sessions where I was delegated new and upcoming projects as well as going through the progress of each project and tasks that I was given. This was to make sure I wasn't getting stressed and it indicated the priority of the tasks that I was given. When I was writing procedures and risk assessments my manager would indicate where I would receive the information for the procedures and would review the procedures before they were formally issued.

Every day the tasks were completely different, but I was very busy the majority of the week where I have a few days where I was sitting at my desk doing administration work. Throughout the day, the EHS Team would put their work onto me as we all are busy to ease all of our workloads but each day is a new kind of busy. The work is very enjoyable, but not so much when it is administration work.

Throughout the internship, I was given more responsibility than an Intern Role. I was involved in a number of Health and Safety Projects helping the Specialists until they left and then I lead their projects to complete them, so the site was compliant with new pieces of legislation. It was a fantastic opportunity to be able to take on a lot more responsibility than a normal Intern. Other times, it was administration work by keeping a log of the waste disposal on site, making posters, making checklists etc...

I was lucky to undertake the Nebosh National General Certificate for Occupational Health and Safety, which is invaluable for future Graduate Programmes as this is a desired qualification to receive. My confidence has grown immensely where I am not shy or anxious anymore and I am able to talk to new people around the site. The skills I have learnt are invaluable as I have developed my emotional intelligence skills by being with difficult employees with some of the projects I have led. I have also developed my organisational skills, team work, project management and decision making and problem solving. The skills and qualifications that I have learnt are skills for life.

The atmosphere in the office was professional with banter where everyone would insult everyone as a laugh. But it was professional during the serious times and if you had any problems you could talk to everyone with their honest opinions. It was a comfortable atmosphere where you can be yourself. It was like a family. Everyone would be concerned if you was ill and you would get phone calls to check you was ok instead of when are you returning to work.

The placement was very well organised and as I am a very organised person I was very comfortable. I helped the Environment and the Health and Safety Department with risk assessment, writing procedures as well as being involved in an equal proportion so I gained experience in both departments. If I wanted more experience I would shadow the Specialists and gain knowledge to find out the correct way to do certain tasks. Overall it was well organised. Before I started there were visits I did before I started my internship which eased me into the role.

In terms of personal training and development, the company did invest a lot. I undertook the Nebosh National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, but I undertook many presentations to improve my presentational skills. I have gained a lot from my placements. To use my qualifications I got involved with tasks related to Health and Safety.

It is appealing to go back to the organisation with the Graduate position as they do look after their staff and they are located all over the UK. If I chose to go home they are located in London, which is beneficial, I enjoyed it so much it will be a struggle to go back to University.

There were set groups with fellow interns so I didn't get involved as I like to speak to everyone. However, departments will come together especially EHS to go out for meals on occasions for example when people leave or when people come into the business. It would be a good laugh. It is like a family when everyone comes together.

It was much cheaper than Brighton for living and I saved a lot more money than what I would have if I lived in the Brighton area. The restaurants were the same as in Essex and Brighton. The living was about £20 to £30 difference so that was a saving for me before I go back to university.

I didn't really get involved with the nightlife as I prefer pubs and socialising somewhere where you can talk to people. But near work there were tonnes of restaurants and pubs where you can go on a Friday lunch time when you finish work. It was enjoyable to go out with the department after work on a Friday where you were spoilt for choice in the village in front of the harbour.

I didn't particularly hear of any activities involved outside of work as I worked in EHS. It was nice to have your weekends off with no university work to do where you weren't stressed. I didn't get involved with any opportunities in activities outside of work.