Frequently Asked Questions :

• Application Process
• Eligibility
• Time Conflicts
• Stipends
• Project Details
  • Where will i work?
  • When and where is the student orientation?
  • What kinds of projects will I work on?
  • How will interns be matched to their projects?
  • What will I be expected to do to complete the internship?

Where will I work?

The location of office space fore each team will be arranged by OHIP staff on a case by case bases. Students are responsible for transportation to their assigned office space during work days. Some project may require acces to a car to visit worksites not accesssible by mass transit.

When and where is the student orientation?

All OHIP interns are required to attend a three day orientation the week of June 16, 2008, in San Francisco Bay Area near Berkeley, California. Students from the east coast will be given travel stipends to attend the orientation, so all students can meet each other and receive the same training. This will include an introduction to working with unions and employers, and an overview of occupational health and safety scientific and regulatory issues.

What kinds of projects will I work on?

We are in the process of identifying potential projects and sponsoring unions and employers for next summer. Below are some examples that may be selected:

• researching heat stress problems among farm workers
• researching current safety and training practices at construction sites
• evaluating patient lifting procedures or guidelines to prevent back injury to nurses and other health care providers

See Past Summer Projects for a description of projects from previous years.

How will interns be matched to their projects?

Interns will be matched to projects based on specific technical skills or languages needed as well as expressed areas of interest. Most teams will include students from different disciplines, combining graduate and undergraduate students.

What will I be expected to do to complete the internship?

We want students to have a learning experience that provides an understanding of the world of work from the point of view of the workers . So, each project will be designed to maximize the contact between students and workers, using interviews, surveys, and other tools, as well as worksite tours to observe work practices and conditions. We also want each team to “give something back” to the workers about what the team learned, so they can use this information to improve their work environment.

The final products for each team project will include:

1. A final report to the worksite sponsor and workers, summarizing the team's work and recommendations,
2. An oral presentation to the workers; this might include conducting an educational session or a presentation to a health and safety committee,
3. A Power Point presentation, to share with the other interns at the end of the summer.