So What Do You Do, Actually?

An excellent question, what do I actually do at work? Well during my first couple weeks here, I was largely getting acclimated to the plant and my responsbilities. I performed risk assessments on the tasks people did, the equipment they worked with or that surrounded them, and on the entire area they occupied. I analyzed their movements, what did they do at this workstation, who did they interact with, how did they grip things, how did they move around? It was really neat analyzing human behaviors so closely. I then collected any notes I could about safety risks that could occur, even thinking of any unexpected risks. The form I use, which matches the spreadsheet I unput data into, quantifies four categories, Likelihood of Occurrence, Degree of Possible Harm, Frequency of Exposure, and Number of Persons at Risk, then all the numbers multiply together to determine the Hazard Number. If the number is extremely high, we then need to reevaluate the situation and determine changes to be made to lower the hazard number. I also created an employee safety motivational program that is Olympic themed. That started last week and ends this Friday, I have written details on it in a previous blog. So before it began, I spent a lot of time planning and preparing, but now that it is underway, I just monitor progress and answer questions from time to time. Otherwise I participate in meetings about the plant, safety, or my co-op, or I complete training courses about Unilever or about Supply Chain. I am aware I will be doing different things in the future, and when that happens, I will keep you updated.

Coping with the Distance

"Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated." ~Lamartin

Before accepting this internship, I thought long and hard about the consequences, the main one being separated by distance from my loving boyfriend, Brandon. I eventually chose the internship because I was well aware of the wonderful experience I would receive and all that I would learn, but I knew it would be the hardest thing for our relationship. Before I continue, I would like to mention that I am writing about this subject because this blog is to serve as guidance for students evaluating the possibility of an internship experience. Leaving a love one, family, and friends behind is something that will be very present throughout your entire experience. Upon my decision to take the internship, I immediately worked through a plan on visiting my boyfriend. We decided to see each other (face-to-face) every 3 weeks. Although this will result in a lot of traveling, the two trips I have taken already have been the most worthwhile thing I've done. When you're separated from your loved one, it can feel like something is tearing apart inside you. I would equate this with a broken heart, however, it is a mixed feeling because your heart is not broken, you are still together, you still communicate, laugh, and share moments. The times we have actually together make me never want to leave again, I look forward to being with Brandon once again. I need to point out that Brandon supports me in what I'm doing, he understands that this experience will further my career and my education, he continually asks how work is and encourages me to do well and keep on smiling. When deciding to take an internship, or any job offer, it is important to reflect on how it will affect not only you but the people around you. I know my decision did not make things at all easy for Brandon, but our love for each other holds us together. I am so grateful for this co-op, and I love working for Unilever, but I cannot wait to be back in my little place in Michigan, back in Brandon's warm embrace.

A lesson on noticing people

As an intern, you will be thrown in the middle of people wanting to be noticed by you and people who forget who you are, thankfully at my small location, people seldom forget who the one college-aged girl who likes to dress up is. However, it is very important to notice people, whoever they are. I definitely feel a bit sore whenever my buddy or my manager asks if I got an email that was sent to every other manager and I have to reply no. I feel like, albeit unintentionally, that other managers are forgetting about me, forgetting to include me, which is a respect issue. On Friday on of the temporary employees did not follow procedure when a new hire came to the employee entrance. The new hire is supposed to wait in the front, a measure of security. When it was realized that this temporary employee let a "random person" walk around the building, they more or less got chewed out for their mistake. Later that same morning, this man was literally just holding the handle of his ceramic coffee mug, when the cup portion gave out and shattered all over the tile floor. As I helped him pick it up, he (of course) cut his hand on one of the edges of broken ceramic, a first aid that must be recorded. As I saw him in the breakroom during his lunch I went out of my way to ask if his day had become any better. He looked forlorn and replied that it hadn't. On my way out he looked up and told me one of the most sincere "thank you for asking" 's that I had ever heard. I like to think that this one act of noticing something small about someone made his day just a littler better. Things like this are important. You never know how someone feels outside of work, or even during work for that matter. Always take time to say hello and become sincerely involved in getting to know a person.