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111 Referral Standard: Clinical Safety Case Report

11.2 Clinical safety hazard log risk matrix & scoring tool

Table 1

Likelihood CategoryInterpretation
Very highCertain or almost certain; highly likely to occur
HighNot certain but very possible; reasonably expected to occur in most cases
MediumPossible
LowCould occur but in the great majority of occasions will not
Very lowNegligible or nearly negligible possibility of occurring

Table 2

Severity ClassificationInterpretationNo. of Patients Affected
CatastrophicDeathMultiple
Permanent life-changing incapacity and any condition for which the prognosis is death or permanent life-changing incapacity; severe injury or severe incapacity from which recovery is not expected in the short termMultiple
MajorDeathSingle
Permanent life-changing incapacity and any condition for which the prognosis is death or permanent life-changing incapacity; severe injury or severe incapacity from which recovery is not expected in the short termSingle
Severe injury or severe incapacity from which recovery is expected in the short termMultiple
Severe psychological traumaMultiple
ConsiderableSevere injury or severe incapacity from which recovery is expected in the short termSingle
Severe psychological traumaSingle
Minor injury or injuries from which recovery is not expected in the short term.Multiple
Significant psychological traumaMultiple
SignificantMinor injury or injuries from which recovery is not expected in the short termSingle
Significant psychological traumaSingle
Minor injury from which recovery is expected in the short termMultiple
Minor psychological upset; inconvenienceMultiple
MinorMinor injury from which recovery is expected in the short term; minor psychological upset; inconvenience; any negligible severitySingle
Likelihood CategoryInterpretation
Very highCertain or almost certain; highly likely to occur
HighNot certain but very possible; reasonably expected to occur in the majority of cases
MediumPossible
LowCould occur but in the great majority of occasions will not
Very lowNegligible or nearly negligible possibility of occurring
Risk Acceptability
5Unacceptable level of risk
4Mandatory elimination of hazard or addition of control measure to reduce risk to an acceptable level
3Undesirable level of risk. Attempts should be made to eliminate the hazard or implement control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level. Shall only be acceptable when further risk reduction is impractical
2Acceptable where cost of further reduction outweighs benefits gained or where further risk reduction is impractical
1Acceptable, no further action required

Page last updated: 06 January 2026