A severity rating is a risk-based categorisation of an occurrence, which:   

  • allows consistent identification of priority events for discussion and escalation (eg investigation)
  • communicates to the industry the type of incidents we are particularly concerned about, supporting our efforts to move the industry into risk-based thinking, and
  • allows us to track overall levels of safety in the industry, rather than just focus on particular types of incidents and/or simply track the level of reporting.