Ventilation Strategies, Radiation Control, and Occupational Safety in Uranium Mines (8h)
Level: Introductory
Facilitator: Euler De Souza, AirFinders Inc. & Mhula Kitindi, Cameco
Short Course Objectives:
- Recognize early signs of mental health challenges in mining and industrial settings.
Provide immediate, evidence-based support until professional help is available. - Communicate with empathy to reduce stigma and foster open dialogue.
- Strengthen safety culture by linking mental health awareness to incident prevention.
- Identify resources for ongoing support.
Target Audience:
The target audience includes professionals and stakeholders who work directly or indirectly in uranium mining or in other underground settings with comparable hazards, particularly those involved in ventilation engineering, radiation protection, and occupational health practices.
Key groups include:
- Mining Engineers and Mine Managers, who design, operate, and oversee mine ventilation systems.
- Mine Technologists, responsible for monitoring ventilation performance and implementing exposure-control programs.
- Occupational Health and Safety Professionals, charged with maintaining safe working conditions underground.
- Mine Rescue and Emergency Response Teams, who must respond effectively to ventilation- or radiation-related incidents.
Abstract
This short course provides a comprehensive study of environmental control systems in uranium mining, emphasizing mine ventilation system design, radon mitigation, occupational safety, and regulatory compliance.
Participants will learn to design, assess, and optimize ventilation plans, evaluate radiological hazards and implement effective safety protocols. Real-world case histories and industry examples are integrated to reinforce practical application and decision-making skills.
The course is organized into 7 modules, each combining theoretical concepts with practical applications. Practical components translate theory and real-world case histories into actionable engineering and operational practices. Participants will also complete short-answer assessments to evaluate their understanding and reinforce learning.
- Module 1 — Introduction to Uranium Mining & Hazards
- Module 2 — Radon Gas Behavior in Underground Mine Environments
- Module 3 — Ventilation System Design for Radiation Control
- Module 4 — Radiation Monitoring, Dosimetry & Control Limits
- Module 5 — Occupational Safety: Human Factors & Emergency Management
- Module 6 — Regulatory Framework & Best Practices
- Module 7 — Integrated Environmental and Safety Management Systems
About the instructor(s):
Dr. Euler De Souza holds a B.Sc., M.A.Sc., and Ph.D. in Mining Engineering and is an internationally recognized expert in mine ventilation. He has extensive experience leading complex ventilation projects across uranium mines, potash and salt mines, cold-region operations, and
nuclear waste repositories.
Dr. De Souza has authored nearly 620 publications, including over 410
technical reports for consulting projects. He is the Founder and President of AirFinders Inc., a consulting firm that provides mine ventilation services to both hard-rock and soft-rock mines worldwide.
AirFinders Inc.’s clients include some of the largest global mining companies, such as BHP, Cameco, Rio Tinto, Newmont, Alamos Gold, Eldorado Gold, Barrick, Nutrien and Mosaic.
Mhula Kitindi is a Senior Mining Engineer at Cameco’s Cigar Lake mine, specializing in ventilation system design and optimization, mine development, and ground control. He joined Cigar Lake in October 2016 after working as a Junior Mining Engineer at Cameco’s Rabbit Lake underground uranium mine, where his focus was on ventilation planning, troubleshooting, and monitoring.
Mhula began his mining career with Cameco in September 2014, following more than 20 months of co-op placements with Barrick Gold Corporation’s global operations. His experience includes a four-month summer term at Tanzania’s Bulyanhulu underground gold mine in 2010, an eight-month placement at Hemlo in Marathon, Ontario, in 2011, and a four-month term at Buzwagi gold mine in Tanzania in 2012.
His final eight-month co-op before graduating in May 2014 was split between Barrick’s corporate office in Toronto and the Turquoise Ridge underground gold mine in Nevada, USA. Mhula holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
