Name something you would commonly associate with reliable data hosting?  Survey says…

1. Security
2. Performance
3. Redundancy
4. Capacity

Ok, maybe it’s a stretch to think we'd all come up with the items on this list, but for organizations (and particularly their IT folks) concerned with the security and integrity of the data they entrust Intelex with, it’s a list we’re confident they’d like to see as it reflects the recent enhancements made to our already steady and trustworthy hosting environment. 

Having opened a second SAS 70 Type II certified environment in Herndon, Virginia this past August, the first being in San Antonio, Texas, Intelex is in a position to effectively meet and surpass the hosting needs required by our rapidly growing client base according to Mike Hicks, Executive Vice President of Information Technology. More thoroughly, Mike explains that, “having a geographically diverse environment gives us more capacity, provides improved performance, and adds an extra level of redundancy for all of our customers”, factors strongly complimenting the security assurances provided by our hosting partner, Rackspace, through their adherence to SAS 70 Type II certification.

If you’re unfamiliar with these assurances, Rackspace helps to elaborate: “We have processes and safeguards in place designed to protect the assets and data you entrust us with. Therefore, we view a SAS 70 Type II examination as a necessity. A service auditor's examination performed in accordance with SAS No. 70 ("SAS 70 Audit") is widely recognized, because it represents that a service organization has been through an in-depth audit of their control objectives and control activities, which often include controls over information technology and related processes. A Type II report not only includes the service organization's description of controls, but also includes detailed testing of the design and operating effectiveness of the service organization's controls”.

So what does all of this amount to?  From a data management point of view, it means our ASP hosted clients are in great hands with Intelex.  SAS 70 Type II certification provides industry stringent assurances, while a geographically diverse hosting environment helps to ensure the integrity of the data you rely on each and every day.  The next time someone asks you to name something commonly associated with reliable data hosting, you can confidently answer, Intelex.

Intelex is extremely excited to announce that preliminary planning for our first ever user conference has begun!

Tentatively scheduled for late summer/early fall 2009 in beautiful Toronto, Canada (exact dates and venue to be determined), we envision bringing all of our valued clients together for this inaugural event in an effort to build and further strengthen the Intelex community. 

Here’s a quick preview of what you’ll be able to expect:

• Discussion on the direction and focus of Intelex Technologies Inc.
• Address from EQH&S industry members
• Industry best practices
• Training sessions
• Moderated discussion groups
• Breakout sessions
• Success stories
• Social/networking activities and more!

If you’re interested in attending the conference, providing any suggestions and/or input, or would like to remain apprised of upcoming conference news, email the Client Relations Team at client.relations@intelex.com.  Our goal is to make this event one that’s informative, enjoyable, and most importantly, of value to our entire client base.  Stay tuned!

With initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Western Climate Initiative, tracking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become a necessity for many organizations. To help our customers address this business need, Intelex developed a Greenhouse Gas Emission Tracking Module in 2008.

Like all of Intelex’s systems and modules, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Tracking Module is designed to be both scalable and configurable; in turn, making the system applicable to all emitter types and constituents.  The Intelex System has the ability to track a single point source at a single location or thousands of point sources around the globe. Larger emitters with multi-locations and diverse point sources will benefit greatly from the built-in location-oriented logic that allows all emissions of a common type to roll up to a top location for a top-down view of all point sources.

Organizations using the Intelex GHG Tracking Module have the ability to:

• Define any number of point sources for GHGs or other air contaminants
• Determine point source emission factors that can be applied organization-wide or made specific to each location or source (many emission factors can be found in the USEPA AP-42 document)
• Outline the method and frequency for capturing GHG or air contaminant activities. Energy consumption, vehicle usage, fuel used, etc.
• Create organization-wide tasks for any company representative to complete GHG-related activities
• Automatically convert all GHGs to CO2e and define normalization factors for all organization locations
• Outline multiple emission factors per location and source
• Create frequency-based emission tasks
• Emission inventories  for single locations, divisions , business units with organization-wide data roll up 
• Define and maintain permit levels at each location or as an organization
• Chart normalized trends across point sources and locations
• Gain unparalleled transparency of carbon credits
• Facilitate transparency across all sources and locations to identify GHG and air contaminant abatement program

Intelex would like to congratulate Metso Minerals on their newly implemented, global safety program! The following article was featured in Mining News Magazine and discusses Metso's proactive approach to safety.

Safety Is No Accident

Metso Raises the Bar with Global Standards

Mention safety to most mining industry people and their first picture is of protective headgear and reflective vests. But according to Chris Adkins, global health and safety specialist for Metso Mining's Life Cycle Services (LCS) team, the future of safety is more in software than in hardhats. "There'll come a time," he says, "when we'll be able to remotely monitor what every single job site is doing from a safety point of view."

To achieve this goal, the LCS team has launched a Safety Management System using Intelex, a web-based safety software application, which is both completely configurable and globally accessible. Best of all, according to Adkins, is the way the system can be specifically tailored to meet the needs of the user.

Configurable System

"With the Safety Management System now operational," he says, "Metso supervisors and managers can manage safety documents, report employee incidents and draw upon continuously updated best practice guidelines from Metso operations worldwide." Furthermore, safety guidelines and information can be configured according to the legal or linguistic requirements of different countries.

Adkins explains that the new Metso system "can also be specified for various levels of management and education, including safety training for particular machines or service contracts." Training courses will be able to cover every aspect of mining safety or can be individualized for subjects as varied as mills, confined spaces and road safety. The Intelex program can also help to assess relevant conditions at a job site and to monitor local governmental or environmental standards.

Standard Practices

There are currently over 440 safety-related documents in a variety of languages in the system and running "live" in eight countries. The remaining countries where Metso operates service contracts should be "live" on Intelex by the end of 2008, by which time the management reports section of the system will also be operational.

Adkins sees Metso's Safety Management System as vital in establishing a uniform code of safety behaviors. "Part of my role is to create standard practices that are equal in every region," he says. "With verifiable results I can help protect and maximize the potential of Metso's greatest resource, our employees".

Adkins concludes, "People are realizing that safety is not a fad. We're here to stay."

"We'll be able to remotely monitor what every job site is doing from a safety point of view." – Chris Adkins

Photo left to right - Neil Hughes (Legal Services & Risk Manager, Australia), Chris Adkins (Global Health & Safety Specialist, Life Cycle Services), Howard Savage (SHEQ Manager, Australia) & Pieter Geldenhuys (SHE Manager, South Africa)

© Metso Mining News 2008

Metso's safety program is powered by the Intelex Safety Management System. Speak with an Intelex Account Manager about how your business can benefit from an organization-wide safety program.

Whether ascribing to government and/or industry regulatory standards, Intelex’s Performance Dashboards work to quickly and accurately assess how your organization measures up. 

Performance Dashboards can be built from any of the twenty one different Scorecards the Intelex Reporting Suite offers, Metric Scorecards being the most powerful.  As its name suggests, Metric Scorecards, along with Metric Columns, allow Intelex users to hone in on the metrics and key performance indicators vital to their organization’s success. 

Now, try to imagine a single page within your Intelex System where all EQH&S metrics pertinent to your own organization can be referred to.  Dan Marcus, one of Intelex's Account Managers did just that.  Check out his Performance Dashboard made up entirely of Metric Scorecards:

It's safe to assume Dashboards like these can be of benefit to any organization.  If you haven’t started using Metric Scorecards to enhance EQH&S reporting, start small and see what they can do for you.  We’re confident the results will impress.  If you feel you’d rather have Intelex build your Performance Dashboards for you, we encourage you to submit the ideas you feel will work for you.

Legal and Other Requirement Dashboards and Scorecards are now available for free download on the Intelex-Exchange.  Import them directly into your Intelex System to get the most out of your Legal and Other Requirements Intelex Module. 

DASHBOARD
Legal and Other Requirement Dashboard

SCORECARDS
Metric Scorecard
Legal and Other Requirements - Metric Scorecard

Configurable Report Scorecards
Overdue Legal Requirements
Overdue Other Requirements
Overude Permits by Reapply Date
Legal Requirements - Next Year
Legal Requirement History - Current Year
Other Requirements - Current Year
Upcoming Legal Requirements - Current Year
Permit Renewal - Current Year
Overdue Permit Activities - Current Year

Graphical Scorecards
Legal Requirements by Type - Current Year
Legal Requirements - Current and Upcoming Year
All Overdue Legal Requirements
Other Requirements - Current and Upcoming Year
All Overdue Legal Requirements
All Overdue Permits
Permits - Current and Upcoming Year
All Overdue Permit Activities
Permit Activity by Month - Current and Upcoming Year
Permit Activity Cost by Location

Search Component Scorecards
Legal Requirements - Search Component Scorecard
Other Requirements - Search Component Scorecard
Permit Activities - Search Component Scorecard
Permits - Search Component Scorecard

Other Scorecards
Legal and Other Requirements - Toolbar Scorecard
Legal and Other Requirements - Task List Scorecard

Several different metrics are employed by organizations to keep track of their progress towards achieving sustainability goals. These performance indicators typically show up in annual sustainability reports or on the sustainability sections of corporate websites. Executives and environmental managers usually have access to these KPIs on the dashboards of Environmental Mangement Systems and/or Safety Management Systems. Here is a brief survey of some of the most popular indicators.  

SAFETY

Cost of solved safety non-conformances
Health and safety prevention costs
Lost time (in hours) due to accidents (including fatalities)
Lost time (in h ours) due to non-fatal accidents
Number of fatalities
Number of non-conformance with legal or internal standards in safety inspections
Number of solved safety non-conformances
Number of reportable accidents(including fatalities)
Number of reportable non-fatal accidents
Percentage of corrective actions closed out within specified time-frame
Total of hours in safety and health training

ENERGY USE

Total Energy Use (Joules or Million kWh)

WATER USE

Water Use (million L)

AIR EMISSIONS

Carbon Dioxide (million kg)
Ozone Depleting Substance Releases (Kg)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (Kg)
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) (Kg)
Permitted Air Emissions (million kg)

WASTE

Hazardous Waste Generation (million kg)
Hazardous Waste Disposal (million kg)
Hazardous Waste Recycled (million kg)

SOLID WASTE

Solid Waste Generation (million kg)
Solid Waste Disposal (million kg)
Solid Waste Recycled (million kg)

WATER DISCHARGES

Wastewater Discharge (million L)
Wastewater Discharge (million L/billion $)