When should confined space access needs be assessed before a shutdown?

Ideally well before the shutdown begins, testing standard equipment assumptions against the actual physical layout of the work areas in advance. Discovering access problems once the shutdown window has started creates significant schedule risk. Sparkline Group recommends engaging in this assessment during the planning phase, as was done for this project. This proactive approach reduces the chance of costly delays during the actual shutdown. Early planning conversations with an equipment supplier pay off significantly during execution.