Going back a bit but Keg mentioned the differences between Domestic and International push-back procedures in MEL and who the instructions are given to by ATC, i.e via the aircraft for domestic and directly to the push-back driver for international.
Being involved in both regularly, the underlying factor no matter what the situation, is that the person on the headset is in charge of the push-back and is ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE for the push back.
Not trying to hang anyone here but if the VA push-back was un-sighted by the headset operator on the blindside then the push should not have started in the first place.
If VA are conducting push-backs in confined spaces without wing walkers then there is an element of culpability here me thinks.
