ATOMIC ENERGY LICENSING ACT 1984

Objectives of this act

1. to provide for the regulation and control of atomic energy
2. to establish standards on liability for nuclear damage

Among the functions of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board

1. to advise the Minister and the Government of Malaysia on matters relating to the act
2. to exercise control and supervision over the production, application and use of atomic energy
3. to establish, maintain and develop scientific and technical cooperation with such other bodies, institutions or organizations in relation to nuclear matters or atomic energy

Part III and IV of the act deals with licensing of nuclear activities and radioactive materials

Part V of the act deals with health and safety matters of employees. Protection of workers cover areas such as

1. conditions of exposure
2. dose limitation
3. occupational exposure
4. medical exposure
5. exposure of members of the public and persons other than workers, excluding medical exposure
6. accidental exposure
7. emergency exposure and
8. exposure other than the above

If the appropriate authority has reasonable cause to believe that any worker has been or is likely to be exposed to ionizing radiation, the appropriate authority may require the licensee:

1. to provide and require such worker to wear approved personnel-monitoring devices
2. to keep records of dose and type of ionizing radiation to which such worker has been or is likely to be exposed
3. to install or use monitoring devices in work places to record the amount of ionizing radiation present and to keep records thereof and
4. to provide medical examination for such worker by an approved registered medical practitioner at such intervals as the appropriate authority may determine.

The appropriate authority may ask the licensee to provide medical examination by an approved registered medical practitioner for relevant workers

Any registered medical practitioner performing a medical examination shall inform the appropriate authority those affected or is reasonably suspected to be affected by ionizing radiation

Worker includes any person whether or not employed by the licensee involves in the handling or use of, or who will come into contact with, any radioactive material, nuclear material, prescribed substance or irradiating apparatus.

The Minister may prescribe the basic safety standards for the protection of workers and all other persons against ionizing radiation

Part VI of the act deals with the disposal and transport of radioactive waste

General penalty for contravening any provisions in the act is imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand ringgit or both.