Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist - Intern

Who We Are:
Challenge’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.

Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!

Together we own Safety! Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Who We Want:

We are looking for motivated junior and senior level college students majoring in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Engineering, or a related field to support the Environmental Health and Safety team in ensuring a safe working environment within our Walker, Michigan location!

What You’ll Do:

This internship will be project based.  Below is a real project example of what you would be working on.

Project Assignments:

1. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Program Enhancement:
• Review and update LOTO procedures for robotic welding cells, stamping presses and other high-energy equipment.
• Assist in conducting risk assessments to identify gaps in current LOTO practices.
• Develop training materials and assist in hands-on LOTO training sessions for maintenance and production staff.
2. Machine Guarding Compliance and Optimization:
• Conduct a machine safeguarding audit for robotic welding stations and material handling equipment.
• Assist in implementing corrective actions for identified deficiencies.
• Research and recommend improvements to automated safety barriers and interlocks.
3. Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Auditing:
• Perform facility wide EHS audits, focusing on compliance with OSHA, EPA, and company safety standards.
• Compile audit reports and track corrective action implementation.
• Assist in developing a digital tracking system for safety audit findings and resolutions.
4. Ergonomic Risk Assessment and Improvement Initiatives:
• Conduct ergonomic reviews of welding stations, material handling, and assembly areas.
• Utilize ergonomic assessment tools to identify high-risk tasks and recommend workstation modifications.
• Assist in the implementation of ergonomic solutions, such as lifting aids and work area redesigns.
5. Safety Training Development & Delivery:
• Create and update safety training modules for topics such as fire prevention, PPE usage, and chemical handling.
• Assist in facilitating safety toolbox talks and training sessions for new hires and existing employees.
• Develop visual safety guides and infographics for use in the manufacturing facility.
6. Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis Support:
• Assist in incident investigations related to workplace injuries, near misses, and equipment failures.
• Document root cause analyses and support the implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop a safety bulletin summarizing key learnings from incidents.
7. Environmental Compliance and Waste Management Initiatives:
• Support hazardous waste management efforts, including labeling, storage, and disposal compliance.
• Assist in air quality monitoring and reporting for welding fumes and other emissions.
• Research and support sustainability initiatives related to waste reduction and recycling.
8. Other Duties as Assigned:
• Participate in cross-functional safety meetings and provide input on process improvements.
• Support data analysis and reporting for safety KPIs (e.g., injury rates, near misses).
• Assist in emergency preparedness planning and drills.

Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong inte