Glossary

Critical Incident

A serious, unexpected incident that results in severe physical or psychological trauma to a person. Common examples of a critical incident are a major vehicle accident, death of a close friend or co-worker, fire or bomb threat, acts of physical violence or sexual assault, and serious verbal threats.

The impact of a critical incident can be severe to one’s personal and mental well-being. Companies are encouraged to have suitably trained staff and a formal procedure in place so affected individuals get the support they need to deal with the effects of a traumatic event.