Many crush incidents aren’t caused by a single mistake—they’re tied to missing or ineffective safety controls. In the real world, disputes often center on questions like:
- Was the area properly secured while equipment was operating?
- Were guards, barriers, or interlocks in place—or bypassed?
- Were lockout/tagout steps followed before maintenance or clearing jams?
- Were equipment inspections and maintenance records kept and current?
- Did supervisors respond correctly after earlier safety complaints?
Because these issues depend on technical records and job-site practices, the early phase matters. The goal is to preserve evidence before it disappears—especially in workplaces where documentation is routinely updated, systems are repaired quickly, or video footage is overwritten.


