Safety & Human Resources Intern

Position Overview: 

Roanoke Cement Company is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Safety / Human Resources Intern to support both the Safety and HR teams at our cement manufacturing facility in Troutville, Virginia.

This internship provides hands-on experience in industrial safety, workforce engagement, and human resources operations within a heavy manufacturing environment regulated by MSHA. The intern will assist with safety initiatives, employee engagement activities, training coordination, and HR administrative projects while gaining valuable exposure to plant operations.

This position is designed for students interested in occupational safety, human resources, industrial relations, or business management who want practical experience in a manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities: 

Safety Support

• Assist with maintaining and promoting the plant’s safety-first culture across all departments.
• Support safety inspections, plant walk-throughs, and hazard identification activities.
• Assist with Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) documentation and safety procedure updates.
• Help track and organize safety documentation including training records, audits, and incident reports.
• Support safety meeting preparation and help coordinate department safety meetings.
• Assist with organizing safety campaigns, awareness initiatives, and safety communications.

Human Resources Support

• Assist HR with employee engagement initiatives, recognition programs, and plant events.
• Support onboarding processes for new employees including documentation and orientation preparation.
• Assist with organizing employee records and maintaining HR documentation in accordance with company policies.
• Support HR with administrative projects related to training, development, and compliance.
• Assist with tracking employee participation in programs such as wellness initiatives, Titan Pulse, or plant training programs.
• Help coordinate internal communications and employee engagement activities.

Training & Compliance

• Assist with tracking mandatory safety and compliance training.
• Help organize training schedules and prepare materials for employee training sessions.
• Support documentation of MSHA-related training records and compliance requirements.
• Assist with data entry and recordkeeping related to training, safety audits, and HR compliance.

Continuous Improvement & Projects

• Assist with small projects focused on improving safety awareness and employee engagement.
• Support HR and Safety leadership with preparing presentations, reports, or internal communications.
• Help analyze basic safety or HR metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Participate in plant initiatives such as continuous improvement, employee recognition, or safety culture programs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with operations, maintenance, safety, and HR teams to support plant initiatives.
• Participate in plant meetings and gain exposure to the operational side of cement manufacturing.
• Assist with various administrative and project tasks assigned by the Safety or HR Manager.

Qualifications

Education

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields:
  • Occupational Safety
  • Human Resources
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial Management
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)
  • Or a related discipline
• Rising sophomore, junior, or senior students preferred.

Preferred Skills & Knowledge

• Interest in workplace safety, HR operations, or industrial manufacturing environments.
• Basic knowledge of safety principles, workplace compliance, or HR practices is beneficial.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to maintain confidential HR information appropriately.

Soft Skills

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• High attention to detail and strong safety awareness.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written) with professional decorum.
• Strong attention to detail with analytical and judgment capabilities to anticipate issues and provide solutions.
• Ability to work in a heavy industrial cement plant environment.