Final answer:
When equipment failure is suspected, the equipment should be preserved at the scene for investigation, and any analysis or modifications should be well documented. Removal may be necessary if the equipment poses an ongoing risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
When equipment failure is suspected as a cause of an incident, certain measures should be taken to ensure a thorough investigation and to prevent further incidents. The equipment in question should be preserved at the scene, in the state it was found immediately following the incident, to allow for a detailed examination and to identify the cause of the failure. Preserving the equipment at the scene helps ensure that evidence is not tampered with or altered, which could compromise the investigation. In addition to preserving the equipment, analysis, repair, or modification should be well documented. This documentation is critical for understanding what went wrong, how it was addressed, and for creating a record that can be referred to in future safety training or investigations. Removal of the equipment should be considered based on the severity of the failure and whether it poses any ongoing risk to safety. Before making such a decision, a thorough risk assessment should be conducted, and relevant safety protocols should be followed.