SeaWorld knows killer whales have the potential to be aggressive but doesn’t take adequate steps to protect its trainers.  Throughout the film, former trainers drive home the point that SeaWorld knew human-whale interactions were dangerous long before Brancheau’s death.  “I’d been expecting somebody to be killed by Tilikum,” ex-trainer John Jett, who once worked with the killer whale, told the film crew. “I’m surprised it took as long as it did.”  But SeaWorld maintains that orca aggression isn’t a regular occurrence.  Here’s how the company described whale-related risks in a court document filed late last year:  On rare occasions, killer whales can be dangerous. SeaWorld has taken extraordinary measures to control that risk. But it cannot eliminate it while facilitating the interaction between humans and whales that is integral to its mission.  In that same filing, SeaWorld argues it has taken “extraordinary steps” to ensure safety, including by having trainers document whale behavior.  It also outlined emergency procedures, including an alarm that alerts trainers if one of their colleagues is injured or appears at risk. The park says trainers must have more than 18 months of experience before they have close contact with an orca and at least three years before they can direct whales’ behavior.  SeaWorld says its training protocols are far from static, and that the company applies lessons learned.  “Our practices evolve and improve continually,” SeaWorld said in a statement.