Crew planning · 19 October 2026
Planning a mobile crib room
around crew shifts.
How many people need a seat at the same time? That question matters more than the total headcount on a project. Here is a practical way to brief a mobile crib room for meal breaks, pre-starts and office work across the day.
01 — Crew numbers
Start with peak occupancy, not the payroll.
Write down the number of people who will use the facility on each shift. Then identify the busiest period inside the crib room. An eight-person day crew taking a break together creates a different space requirement from a larger crew using staggered breaks. Contractors, supervisors and visitors may also need space at the same time, so include them in the site brief where relevant.
The published Series 7 specifications show bench dining seating for eight people and a separate office area with two workstations. Those figures describe the layout; they do not guarantee that every crew pattern will fit. Check the Series 7 floor plan against your actual break and work schedules before choosing a unit or requesting a custom arrangement.
02 — Breaks and briefings
Draw a simple timetable for the day.
For each shift, note start time, pre-start briefing, morning break, lunch, afternoon break and handover. Mark which events require people to sit, use the kitchen or enter the office. If two groups overlap at a shift change, count the overlap rather than the average number present during the day.
Consider whether the unit will be used for meals only or for toolbox talks and small meetings too. If a briefing takes place while another group is finishing lunch, the same tables cannot serve both groups at once. Staggering breaks may be an operational solution, but only if the site's roster and supervision can actually support it. Plan from the intended routine, not an ideal schedule that crews will struggle to follow.
03 — Office activity
Keep the two workstations in the calculation.
The Series 7 office area has two workstations, a desk across the rear, a filing cabinet and magnetic whiteboards. Ask who needs that area, when they need it and whether office work continues during crew breaks. Paperwork, site coordination and short discussions can have different needs from a dedicated quiet office.
If the project needs more desk space, a meeting focus, sleeping areas or specialist equipment, describe that use early. The custom mobile facility layout guide explains the questions to resolve before design and quotation. A changed arrangement is subject to review and quote; do not assume that dining capacity remains the same after a layout change.
04 — Services
Match services to the roster.
Multiple shifts can increase daily use even when only a small group is inside at one time. Record expected kitchen, toilet and handwashing use, then plan water filling, waste removal and cleaning around the actual hours of operation. The Series 7 specifications list a 500 L fresh water tank and a 500 L waste water tank. Tank capacity alone cannot tell you the service interval, because consumption depends on crew use and site arrangements.
For a remote location, assess power loads alongside the roster. The Series 7 Off-Grid has an 8 kW off-grid power system with 1.2 kW of solar, two 314 Ah 24 V lithium batteries, an 8 kVA inverter/charger and 4.5 kVA diesel generator backup. Operating time depends on loads and weather. The off-grid power planning guide and water and wastewater guide help organise those service questions.
05 — Site placement
Put the facility where the timetable works.
A crib room that is difficult to reach can disrupt a short break. Consider the crew's route from active work areas, safe access at shift changes, the standing area and the path for water and waste servicing. If the project moves between work fronts, revisit the position and transport plan at each stage. Use the delivery and site-readiness checklist to identify what the receiving site must prepare.
Check the proposed position with the people who will operate and service the unit. A route that works on arrival may be blocked later by construction activity, so include likely site changes in the brief.
06 — Procurement brief
Send the shift pattern with the enquiry.
Provide the site location, crew count for each shift, maximum number taking breaks together, briefing and office needs, expected operating hours, available power and water, wastewater arrangements and delivery timing. Include whether you want to buy a mobile crib room or discuss long-term project hire in Queensland, NSW or Victoria.
This gives Site Mate a practical basis to discuss the standard layout, an off-grid configuration or a different arrangement. Recheck the brief when crews grow, schedules change or the unit moves. A plan built around the real working day is easier to use than a single headcount without context.
Common questions
Shift planning FAQ.
How many people can dine in the Series 7?
The published layout has bench dining seating for eight. Compare that with the number of people taking a break at the same time.
Does staggered use mean a smaller facility will always work?
No. Check overlapping shifts, briefings, office use and whether the roster can reliably maintain staggered breaks.
What if our crew size changes during the project?
Review the break timetable, services and layout as crew numbers change. Discuss any different layout or configuration with Site Mate before confirming a build or hire arrangement.
Plan with Site Mate
Tell us how your crew uses the day.
Share your shift pattern, busiest break, office needs and project location. We can discuss the Series 7 layout and the appropriate purchase or long-term hire pathway.