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.

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!

Now that Kristy has her voice back we sat down for a packed episode of EHS This Week, touching on an array of stories including a confounding whistleblower case, a devastating sawmill explosion in British Columbia, Canada, an EPA official's "crucifixion" comment coming back to haunt the agency, and a whole lot more OSHA and EPA news.

Let us know what EHS issues you want to hear about. Write us at paul@ehsthisweek.com or provide a comment below, and let us know if there are any industry leaders or experts you'd like to hear on our program. 

Tune in next week!

While it out to be top-of-mind 365 days a year, tomorrow is probably the most important day in the world of workplace health and safety. April 28th is Workers’ Memorial Day and thousands of individuals in cities around the world with attend events honouring workers killed, disabled, injured or harmed at work.

As OSHA head Dr. Davis Michaels stated in a recent audio message in honour of the day of mourning, every day 12 American workers go to work and never come home as a result of workplace fatalities. On a global level, the statistics are even more staggering: one worker dies every 15 seconds and more people die at work than fighting wars.

Workers’ Memorial Day has special resonance north of the border for a number of reasons. More than 28 years ago,  before it gained widespread international attention, Workers’ Memorial Day was founded by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). It was officially recognized by an Act of the Canadian Parliament in 1991 and is now honoured in dozens of countries around the world. Further, on Monday a tragic and highly publicized sawmill explosion occurred in Prince George, British Columbia, leaving two workers dead and injuring another 19.

So tomorrow is a great opportunity to take pause and consider what you can do to improve the health and safety conditions of your workplace and to remember those who have been killed or injured at work in the past year. For some ideas of what you can do and events happening in your community, go to the International Day of Mourning website.

My colleague JP Nadeau joined me for the latest EHS This Week Podcast, sitting in for our regular co-host, Kristy, who lost her voice earlier this week. JP brought us the biggest headlines in safety, including a host of exciting news on a variety of OSHA programs and initiatives. Additionally, we discussed significant climate legislation out of Mexico, as well as the latest data on U.S. GHG emissions. It was a great chat so don't miss it!

Let us know what EHS issues you want to hear about. Write us at paul@ehsthisweek.com or provide a comment below, and let us know if there are any industry leaders or experts you'd like to hear on our program. 

Tune in next week!

Wow! We're kinda pumped. For starters, it's been an amazing year for Intelex, award-wise. From being named one of Canada's 50 Best companies, to being singled out as one of the best GTA employers on two exclusive lists in the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star, the accolades have just kept coming, and last night was no different.

The Great Place to Work Institute held its major 2012 Best Workplaces in Canada gala, and presented the 100 best organizations to work for in Canada, singling out 50 medium and 50 enterprise organizations. As announcers came around to counting down Canada's top 10 organizations, we were on the edge of our seats! Then came the big moment as we were named Canada's fifth best place to work!

On top of that, Intelex was handed an exclusive award for camaraderie, which only five other companies of the 100 winners received. So it was a great night, and we're awfully proud to be among Canada's Top 10 organizations, and to be recognized for our company-wide spirit of trust and friendship. 

The Great Place to Work institute is in itself a great organization and boasts one of the most comprehensive and intense scoring methodologies.

We were just thrilled to be keeping company with some of Canada's very best, including Google, which took home the number one spot in the Enterprise category. Go Intelex!

We look at the use of use of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animal, OSHA citations, as usual, and Mexico's aggressive carbon agenda on EHS This Week, the only weekly podcast of its kind in the EHS Market. Take a listen. These are the top stories in environment, health and safety news.

Let us know what you want to hear about next week. Write us at paul@ehsthisweek.com or kristy@ehsthisweek.com.