Critical Risk definition From a OHS risk management perspective, the term 'critical risk' has always been a concern, because the existence of an 'intolerable risk' should result in a work shutdown. The other day I met an old colleague from the chemicals industry who is now a senior ops manager in Queensland. They talk about 'critical hazards', which if are not robustly controlled become intolerable risks. In that context, it makes far more sense to me.