Computer system development to support TMI-2 [Three Mile Island Unit 2] radiological controls, operations, and records management activities

The regulations pertaining to the reporting and keeping of records pertaining to occupational radiation exposure of workers employed at US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (MRC) licensed facilities (licensees) are contained in 10CFR19 and 10CFR20, respectively. These regulations provide specific guidance concerning the types of occupational radiation exposure data that must be generated, tracked, reported, and preserved for individuals working at US nuclear power facilities. Certain forms, such as Form NRC-4 Occupational Radiation Exposure History and Form NRC-5 Current Occupational Radiation Exposure, are required to be maintained by the licensee, and specific guidance is provided as to the format and content of data to be documented on these forms. At the time of the accident, Metropolitan Edison Company (the operator of TMI-2), had in place a fairly comprehensive computerized radiation exposure control and record keeping system. The radiation exposure management (REM) system was maintained on the corporate mainframe computer and employed industry-accepted EDP standards for data entry and retrieval. It soon became apparent that the best approach would be to completely redesign the REM system to best meet the special requirements imposed by the accident situation, and the decision was made to design and develop a totally new REM computer system employing on-line transaction processing and an integrated data base management system