Section 2: Interpretation

2. Interpretation In this Act— “atomic energy” means any type of energy emitted from radio isotopes, nuclear reactions, X-ray equipment or other radiation generators emitting ionising radiation; “authorisation” means a licence or permit granted by the Authority; “authorised officer” means an officer designated as such by the Chief Radiation Protection Officer; “Authority” means the Radiation Protection Authority established under section 4; “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Council; R3 – 1 [Issue 1] Radiation Protection Act “Chief Radiation Protection Officer” means the person appointed as such under section 8; “Council” means the Radiation Protection Council established under section 6; “exclusive economic zone” has the same meaning as in section 6 of the Maritime Zones Act; “exemption level” means— (a) a quantity of radioactivity below 3.7 kilo Bequerrel; or (b) a specific radioactivity below 74 Bequerrel per gram; “ionising radiation” means gamma rays, x-rays or corpuscular radiations which are capable of producing ions directly or indirectly; “licence” means a licence issued under section 11; “licensee” means the holder of a licence; “member” means a member of the Council and includes the Chairperson appointed under Part II; “Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for the subject of energy is assigned; “officer” means a public officer appointed to the staff of the Authority under section 8; “owner” means a person having statutory and administrative control over a source; “practice” means an activity that introduces additional sources of exposure, or extends exposure to additional people, from an existing source so as to increase the exposure or the likelihood of exposure of people or the number of people exposed; “radiation generator” means an apparatus capable of producing ionising radiation; “radiation protection” means the task of protecting radiation workers and the public from unnecessary exposure by the accurate measurement of radiation and the design and use of methods to reduce this radiation; “Radiation Protection Officer” means a person appointed as such under section 8; “radiation worker” means a person potentially exposed to ionising radiation as a result of his occupation; “radioactive material” means any material emitting ionising radiation above the exemption level that may cause a risk of disability or disease as a result of exposure; [Issue 1] R3 – 2 Revised Laws of Mauritius “radioactive substance” means a substance that contains one or more radionuclides of which the activity or the concentration cannot be disregarded as far as radiation protection is concerned; “radiological work” means work involving the use of radioactive materials or other radiation generators or sources capable of emitting ionising radiation; “sealed source” means a radiation source consisting of a radioactive substance enclosed in enclosures or arranged in such other way that there is no risk of the substance being liberated or becoming accessible to direct contact during normal use; “source” means anything that may cause radiation exposure such as by emitting ionising radiation or releasing radioactive substances or materials.