The Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP) is a full time, paid summer internship designed to link the skills and interests of students with the needs of workers employed in an under-served or high hazard job. Teams of two interns are assigned to a union or worker organization where they receive supervision from a designated staff member and an academic mentor. The 2024 OHIP training sites are Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Madison (WI), Minneapolis, New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. 

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Work on a Multidisciplinary Team

Students are matched with projects based on specific language or technical skills, as well as their experience or interest in working with social justice organizations or unions. Typically a graduate student is paired with an undergraduate student. Most teams include students from different disciplines.

Investigate Health and Safety Concerns

Each team project is designed to maximize contact between workers and interns to learn about the hazards and other realities of work. As part of the process of researching hazards, interns interview workers, conduct focus groups, attend union/worker organization meetings, and observe workers on the job. As a result, students gain an understanding of the complexity of the work environment and learn about the importance of health and safety in relation to work.

Ultimately teams identify and document health and safety problems and recommend ways to reduce or eliminate hazards. In return, interns provide workers and unions/worker organizations with concrete information about hazards or health and safety concerns that they can use to build and strengthen their efforts to prevent job injury and illness.

Build Friendships, Meet OSH Professionals, Land a Job!

Experience friendships created by working together to tackle important social problems. Meet other students striving to integrate their academic and political interests into their life’s work. Build camaraderie through team meetings, periodic seminars, and activities held over the summer. Connect with people that have dedicated their careers to improve working conditions for an ever changing, diverse workforce. Attend local, state-wide, and national events where job opportunities may arise.