HSE Placement Student Review

Daily tasks include reviewing and resolving incidents, implementing key HSE policies and procedures into the work place. Additionally, I am responsible for monitoring the water and air emissions as well as the waste, energy and water metrics on a monthly basis. I also conduct inductions for new starts or visitors as well as provide in depth plant tours. Moreover, I am working on large scale projects, such as implementing solar PV onsite and improving the water, waste and energy practices through small scale cross functional working groups.

As being an HSE placement students involves much coordination across the company, the first main skill I gained was developing my confidence in speaking to people across the levels of hierarchy. Moreover, I developed my organizational skills through planning tasks, and using my calendar proactively to monitor my workload and my free time. Furthermore, I have developed my social skills by professionally meeting and integrating myself with the work culture as well as the placement students on site.

Yes, once I was trained by my manager and colleagues, I was trusted to be autonomous with my job and responsibilities. Once I had proven that I can effectively complete the workload, I was then given the opportunity to work on larger projects which had direct impacts on the company and stakeholders. I was also made responsible for planning and coordinating many events, and projects, which developed many other skills. This enabled me to demonstrate my skills and knowledge across my work which was being seen across the company.

I was very well supported across my placement. I had monthly meetings with my manager to go over the work I was doing as well as mentioning any other issues I was facing outside of work. My manager would then assist me on any requests I had. Additionally we were all given placement mentors which would also meet with us once a week and could offer guidance and advice if needed.

The company culture was overall very positive. As the Darlington Campus is a combination of corporate offices, manufacturing and shop floors, there is a variety of cultures and atmospheres which you explore. Everyone was very welcoming and inclusive whether if you were in the offices, shop floor or speaking to visitors.

As a placement it was fantastic. I say this as I was given full independence with my duties which reflected similar responsibilities to full time individuals within my team. This placement also provided me with an opportunity to network across the company and across many different roles. I have found myself developing my knowledge within HSE as well as gaining interest within different functions which I might explore in my future career. In comparison to other placement students, I was very happy with the opportunities and trust I was given.

Yes

Advice I would give to other placement students would be to make the most of the opportunities given to you. I say this as Cummins is a massive international company operating within many countries and reaching out to many other organizations. If you chose to do so, you could easily secure jobs and further responsibilities which other placements would not provide. Furthermore, the employers are very generous with request and ensure that you are well accommodated into your job.