The article discusses the issues of establishing the categorical apparatus of criminal law as exemplified by the crime under Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The disposition of the norm in question is stated in a general way and as a reference: it contains the indication of breach of security requirements for life and health of citizens as a principal crime sign. In this regard, when qualifying an act, questions often arise related to the definition of the content of the category "security requirements", including the mandatory requirements for their regulatory consolidation as a prerequisite for criminal prosecution. Investigating the issue of the content of the criminal law category "security requirements", the author first of all turns to the lexical content of the linguistic construction, establishing its literal meaning, and later, based on the analysis of the doctrine of criminal law and law enforcement practice, fills it with a specific criminal law meaning.