Final answer:
Major criticism of the acceptable-risk approach to workplace health and safety is that it tends to prioritize profits over safety, potentially leading to unsafe work conditions and severe consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the major criticisms of the acceptable-risk approach to workplace health and safety is that it prioritizes profits over safety. This approach can lead to unsafe work environments and reflects a mindset that tolerates a certain level of risk for the sake of cost-cutting or maintaining profits. Incidents, such as the Firestone/Ford tire controversy, illustrate how neglecting safety in favor of reducing costs can result in severe consequences, including loss of life, extensive financial losses, and damage to a company's reputation. Recent legislation allows employees to lodge confidential complaints related to workplace hazards, with the expectation that employers will rectify verified dangers to avoid fines and penalties.