Environmental student benefits from fifth internship
Environmental, safety and occupational health management student, Jayson Clinger (’16), has had the opportunity to intern with three different companies (Honda Manufacturing, BP and Marathon Petroleum Corporation) through five different internships within his four years here at The University of Findlay. To say he is motivated is an understatement!
Jayson took some time to tell us a little more about his current internship at the BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting, Indiana.
Focus of the internship:
“This internship is focused on industrial hygiene, which is really about identifying hazards in the workplace and finding ways to control those hazards. These hazards can include anything from body positioning (ergonomics) to chemical agents such as exposure to benzene and hydrogen sulfide, which are the two big concerns for oil and gas companies. In order to understand the exposures to these hazards we conduct tests. In addition to field work, we also have to make sure that we are properly following and enforcing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.”
What do you hope to learn from this internship?
“I hope to further my understanding of industrial hygiene (IH) practices and programs so that I have a better grasp of IH practices. I also hope to develop my speaking skills and become better at interacting with employees. So far, I’ve worked with a sound level meter to measure the number of decibels in process areas. We are attempting to determine areas where ear plugs are not adequate and where double hearing protection is necessary.”
How is this internship unique?
“For this particular internship, BP is paying for me to live in an upscale apartment in the Chicago Loop. They take very good care of their co-ops! This is a great experience all around and I encourage students to always seek opportunities like this, as it is truly a once in a lifetime experience.”
Jayson hopes to get hired into the oil and gas industry after graduation, specifically Marathon or BP, as they are both great companies and he already has experience with both. Another option he is considering is to attend graduate school for a masters in industrial hygiene.