Recently, up-and-coming developer David Jun Cai wrapped up his three-month internship as a developer in Intelex's Online Communities department. As a 19-year-old University of Waterloo Computer Engineering student, David got first-hand, front-line experience helping Intelex work on new and innovative projects, including Intelex's amazing internal digital newsletter, IntelexPress.

I sat down with David before he left to discuss his time here, what he learned, and what he found unique about the Intelex experience.

Hi, David. So, what were you doing before coming to Intelex?

I was learning Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.

How did you find out about this Internship?

I found out about this internship through University of Waterloo’s job search site for students going on their work term.

What attracted you to take this position at Intelex?

The position attracted me because I was always interested in how websites were made and how they worked. Also I thought I would learn the most here at Intelex compared to other co-op jobs. 

How did you find your time at Intelex?

I really enjoyed my time here at Intelex and the free breakfast on Thursdays.

What did you spend most of your time doing here?

I spent my time working on projects and improvements for the Intelex-Exchange community portal.

What special projects did you work on?

I created a Google map that shows the city location of all the companies that use Intelex-Exchange and I made the online version of IntelexPress. 

What unique features of the company did you notice after coming here?

I would say free breakfast on Thursdays.

What did you learn at Intelex?

I learned so much here at Intelex. When I got here I only knew how to write C# code and a bit of html but now I can write JavaScript, css, more html, ASP.NET MVC, SQL Server, and I also improved in C#. I believe that this will definitely help me in the future either for school or for work.

What will you do after leaving Intelex?

I’m going back to Waterloo for my study term.

Anything else you would like to add?

I’m really glad that Intelex was the place I went to for my first work term.

Are you interested in landing an internship at Canada's fifth best place to work? Check out our careers page and reach out to our recruitment team to learn more.

This week Kristy and I discuss OSHA citation's, EPA fines, calls for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, electrical safety month and more on EHS This Week.

In addition we touch on a huge EPA audit of radiation monitoring sites across the U.S., as well as an EPA chemist reinstated after a whistleblower suit went before the federal Merit Systems Protection Board.

Don't forget to write us with your feedback at paul@ehsthisweek.com.

In honour of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), held from May 6 to 12 this year, EHS This Week is pleased to present this special edition of our EHS podcast.

Kristy and I sat down earlier today to reflect on what NAOSH week is all about, how it was formed, the key themes for this year's week, and some of the events that are being held across the continent.

So check it out and let us know what you think. And don't forget to check back on Friday evening for our regularly scheduled weekly program. Head to the NAOSH site for more on this annual event.

Intelex's Professional Development Office (PDO) is excited to kick off a series of blogs every other Wednesday that highlight the Intelex hiring and onboarding processes, as well as trends in recruiting and learning and development.

Intelex has received a lot of attention recently. After being selected as a Greater Toronto Top Employer, a Great Place to Work (fifth in Canada), and a three-time recipient of the Deloitte Fast 500 Tech Companies honour, among all the other awards that have come our way in the last 12 months. We think it is important to help individuals who are very interested in the company, through the Intelex recruiting process, and that’s why we’ve launched this series of blog posts.

For this entry I would like to discuss The Phone Interview. Most candidates will be interviewed on the phone prior to being brought in for an in-person interview. The process is generally fairly short, usually no more than fifteen minutes.

Here's our Top 5 tips for nailing the phone interview:

1. Be Yourself: Our family-oriented corporate culture at Intelex is very central to who we are and what we do, and finding the right people for this environment is a critical part of the recruitment process. So the phone interview is a great opportunity to show us who you are. You know, putting a personality to the resume! While the interview could include some technical questions, in many cases it will feel just like a conversation. We want to get a sense of who you are so let your personality shine through.
2. Think About Your Future: In addition to getting a sense of the types of roles you have had in the past, the recruitment team at Intelex is really trying to get a sense of what you want to do and where you want to be in the future. Before going on the call, lend some thought to your desired career path. 
3. Get Comfortable: The key to performing well on the phone has as much to do with your experience being in line with the role, as it is with how comfortable you are. If you are nervous, let us know. We want you to perform at your best.
4. Do Your Research: I believe there is nothing more frustrating for a Recruiter when talking to a candidate, than to have them ask what company this role is for, or what the company does. This is information that is available on the internet, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, Google+, et al. The Corporate Recruitment Office does its best to schedule phone interviews with time for candidates to prepare. It does not take long to look up some facts, to re-read the job description, have a preliminary understanding of the role. So be prepared!
5. Ask Questions: As Recruiters we often get asked the same questions over and over; tell me about the corporate culture, where is the company heading, what do you like about working with Intelex. All great questions, and a lot of time information that is not readily available. We also love to have questions that challenge us to think! 

In the PDO’s next blog we will talk about the importance of Onboarding! If you have any suggested topics you would like us to cover, write me or leave a comment below.

We've all heard of a Dental Hygienist, but what about an Industrial Hygienist? Watch this video created by American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) which explains the very important and crucial role industrial hygienists play in maintaining a safe work environment.

This video's timely release coincides with NAOSH Week which takes aim at improving education and awareness surrounding health and safety issues in the workplace.

It’s NAOSH week! In terms of North American Health and Safety, NAOSH week is kind of a big deal. Hot on the heels of the International Day of Mourning for fallen and injured workers (April 28) as well as International Workers Day (May 1), North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) week is a great opportunity to raise awareness about occupational health and safety across the continent.

As we’ve discussed recently on the EHS This Week podcast, injuries and accidents continue persist in workplaces across Canada and the U.S., and as OSHA head Dr. David Michaels recently reminded us, every day 12 American workers go to work and never come home as a result of workplace fatalities. Most workplace injuries and accidents are entirely preventable, and this week is all about seizing opportunities to make North American work environments safer.

Jointly sponsored by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE),  NAOSH week means there is an array of events, activities and ceremonies happening in cities across North America. Find out what’s going on in your community and join in to help prevent workplace accidents and fatalities by checking out NAOSH’s events page and tuning into the Intelex blog for the rest of the week as we devote special coverage to NAOSH, including a mid-week EHS This Week Podcast.

This week we take a look at a variety of OSHA citations, the incoming onset of the biggest week in health and safety for the continent, NAOSH Week, significant climate legislation news out of South Korea -- which seems to be following Mexico's recent example -- the Obama Administration's new rules on gas fracking, and a whole lot more.

As mentioned, next week is NAOSH week and we will be doing our utmost to provide comprehensive coverage, given this is such a great opportunity to highlight the value of occupational health and safety across North America. It's also particularly resonant, coming only days after both the International Day of Mourning for those injured or killed at the workplace (April 28) and International Workers' Day last Monday.

As always, write us at paul@ehsthisweek.com or kristy@ehsthisweek.com with any suggestions, comments, or ideas for future shows. We've loved your feedback so far, but please, if you are interested on coming on the show, please let us know. We would love to have more industry experts participate in the podcast and discuss how we can improve conditions for workers around the world.

Till, next week -- and do remember we are having a mid-week podcast to recognize NAOSH week -- enjoy the show!

According to the Institute for Work & Health, new workers are four times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job than at any other time. With summer getting into full swing, students and young workers are heading out into the job field and now is the time to ensure they are properly instructed, trained, supervised and following the proper procedures.

To ensure that our young workers are properly protected, the Ontario Ministry of Labour has created an Online Portal for Young Worker Safety. The portal includes links to resources, tools, calculators, videos and contact information that provide our young workers with the knowledge they need to stay safe of the job. Also included are helpful tip sheets that are individually tailored for young workers, parents, supervisors, employers and the general public.

The ministry has launched Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages as well to better connect with young workers which are now reaching thousands of users.

Ok, I know that I'm biased when it comes to how organizations can leverage technology to provide visibility into their CSR initiatives; after all, I work for a software company that actually provides this type of technology. But my bias is for good reason. It works.

The practice of claiming environmental responsibility without having metrics or processes to back it up certainly leaves a sour taste in the mouth of the eco-conscious consumer. Even if an organization is truly engaged and mindful of their environmental stewardship, the public is now wary and weary of corporate claims that don't hold...um, water.

And the general appetite for responsible companies and governments when it comes to environmental protection is growing. Look at the recent survey of American attitudes created for Yale and George Mason University. It indicated that 3 out of 4 voters favor regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant and a majority of those polled felt that global warming should be a priority for the President and Congress. Scientific American recently ran a story on the study, if you're interested in reading more.

The only way you can really ensure your message of environmental stewardship is believed is by having the data to back it up. Many people will say that capturing that information is easier said than done. While I would never say it's easy, a change in how an organization does things never is, but I will say it may be easier than you think.

The availability of tools like our Environmental Sustainability Metrics application, is enabling a whole new level of visibility into how organizations are performing against their sustainability targets. Visibility that can provide reassurance to skeptical customers and other interested stakeholders like employees and investors. These tools don't just chart and graph existing data, they require tracking tasks to be completed, forms to be filled in and go as far as to raise red flags when activities run overdue. Performance tracking and trending is clearly visible from graphical performance dashboards.

So yes, I am 100% biased on the subject, but I am one of those people who feels skeptical about green claims and I love reading corporate success stories that can be backed up by metrics. Don't you?

Intelex will be joining the Health and Safety Conference and Trade Show (part of the Partners in Prevention Conference Series) in Mississauga, Ontario, early this week.  This fantastic show currently holds the title as Canada’s largest health and safety event and will take place on May 1^st and May 2^ndat the International Centre.

Excited to connect with key health and safety professionals in the industry and compare best-practices in the field, Intelex’ own solutions experts  Steve Buffett and Ethan Cushing will be exhibiting first-hand how Intelex’s environmental, health and safety software  can help companies overcome critical workplace obstacles.

Be sure to join Steve and Ethan at booth #455!