Pitman 2-2-3 Shift Planner

Translate the Pitman 2-2-3 rotation into labour metrics in seconds. Enter shift length, on-duty shifts per 14-day cycle, total cycle length, and the number of crews to reveal the average weekly hours per employee plus the daily staffed coverage you can promise.

Duration of each on-duty block in hours (enter 12 for a 12-hour shift).
Number of shifts each employee works during the full 14-day Pitman rotation.
Total days in the repeating pattern—classic Pitman uses 14 days.
How many crews rotate through the schedule (use decimals for relief pools, e.g., 4.5).

Educational information, not professional advice.

Examples

  • 12-hour shifts, 7 working shifts in a 14-day cycle, 4 teams ⇒ Average weekly hours per employee: 42.00 | Total staffed hours per day: 24.0
  • 10-hour shifts, 7 working shifts, 14-day cycle, 3 teams ⇒ Average weekly hours per employee: 35.00 | Total staffed hours per day: 15.0
  • 12-hour shifts, 8 working shifts, 14-day cycle, 4.5 teams ⇒ Average weekly hours per employee: 48.00 | Total staffed hours per day: 30.9

FAQ

Why are there seven working shifts?

The classic 2-2-3 rotation schedules each employee for seven on-duty days within the 14-day cycle—two on, two off, three on, followed by the mirrored pattern.

What if my rotation uses overtime blocks?

Increase the Working Shifts per Cycle input to include overtime assignments so the weekly hours reflect the additional load.

Does this include rest requirements?

The output focuses on hours worked. Layer in regulated rest windows and fatigue mitigation policies before publishing the schedule.

Can I model partial teams or relief staff?

Yes. Enter fractional team counts such as 4.5 to represent relief pools or part-time crews and the staffed-hours figure will scale accordingly.

How do I estimate headcount from the staffed hours?

Divide the total staffed hours per day by your desired per-employee shift length to see how many concurrent employees need to be on site.

What if my rotation runs longer than 14 days?

Change the Cycle Length input to match your custom rotation (e.g., 28 days). The formula automatically recalculates weekly averages without additional adjustments.

Additional Information

  • Average weekly hours = (Shift length × Working shifts ÷ Cycle days) × 7, so the result scales automatically for fractional shifts or alternative rotations.
  • Total staffed hours per day multiplies the weekly hours by the number of teams and divides by the cycle length, revealing whether you maintain 24/7 coverage or have gaps.
  • Use the weekly average to audit overtime exposure, union thresholds, and fatigue policies before finalising rosters.
  • Cross-link to the Add Business Days calculator for compliance paperwork deadlines and the Sleep Cycle Count tool to align rest breaks with biological rhythms.

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