What should be done with damaged electrical wires during damage control?

Isolating and deactivating power to damaged electrical wires is crucial for safety during damage control. This step prevents electrocution and mitigates further hazards by ensuring that there is no current flowing through the damaged wires. When working around electrical hazards, prioritizing safety is essential, and disconnecting the power supply eliminates the risk of electric shock for personnel involved in the damage control efforts.

Covering damaged wires with insulation tape may seem like a temporary solution, but it does not effectively address the underlying hazard, as the damaged wires may still pose a risk of electrocution even when taped. Removing the wires completely could be impractical without first ensuring the system is safely deactivated, and reconnecting them without addressing the damage could lead to further safety issues, including fires or continued electrical faults. Therefore, the correct procedure is to first isolate and deactivate power to ensure a safe working environment.