What is the purpose of a utility control strategy in a pre-incident salvage plan?

• A. To manage electrical, gas, water utilities to prevent hazards and enable salvage operations
• B. To shut down all utilities permanently
• C. To ignore utilities
• D. To rely on guesswork about utilities

Answer: (A)

A utility control strategy focuses on proactively managing electrical, gas, and water systems so they cannot create hazards and so salvage work can continue safely. It involves identifying all utilities that could affect the scene, locating the shutoffs and isolation points, and establishing procedures to de-energize, depressurize, or otherwise control those services as needed. The plan assigns clear responsibilities, timing, and coordination with utility companies to ensure shutoffs and re-energization are done safely and recorded for accountability. By handling utilities in a controlled, planned way, you reduce risks such as gas explosions, electrical shocks, fires, and water damage, while keeping access for salvage crews and preserving as much of the scene as possible. It’s a temporary, reversible control during the salvage operation, not a permanent shutdown, and it’s based on a careful assessment rather than guesswork or neglect.