Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)


Glossary — Fatality Type

Fatality TypeDefinition
OperationalFatality that occurred in relation to the operation of the vessel.
Illness/diseaseAny death of a seafarer on a vessel resulting from any illness or disease that is not the result of an occupational injury. Includes deaths from natural causes where the death is a natural progression from disease15.
Person Overboard (Presumed Deceased)Any loss of a seafarer resulting from unintentional departure from the vessel into the water where the seafarer’s body is not recovered.
SuicideAny death of a seafarer on a vessel where the death resulted from a self-inflicted injury16.
OtherAny death of a seafarer on a vessel that is not associated with an operational, illness or disease, suicide, or person overboard. This includes any death of a seafarer on a vessel where the death is as a result of drugs or alcohol, an act of violence, or where the events leading to the death remain unexplained.

Footnotes

15 Refer to the ILO list of occupational diseases (revised 2010), available at: http://www.ilo.org/safework/info/publications/WCMS_125137/lang--en/index.htm

16 Use of term injury rather than harm as this is consistent with ILO definition of occupational injury (which includes fatal injuries).