Plant Operations
Plant operational lifecycle management for active worksites, covering lock-on, handover, and lock-off processes.
Purpose
Plant operations manages the day-to-day operational use of plant and equipment on active worksites. This domain focuses on the operational lifecycle: lock-on → handover → lock-off, ensuring plant safety, proper operator assignment, and accurate tracking of plant status.
Primary Users: Site Protectors, Plant Operators, Mobile Plant Controllers (MPCs)
Business Value: Safe and controlled plant operations with complete operational visibility and proper handover procedures
Core Concepts & Context
Operational Scope
Plant operations covers the active use phase of plant lifecycle:
- Lock-on: Making plant active and available for use on a worksite
- Handover: Transferring plant control between operators and MPCs
- Lock-off: Safely removing plant from active protection
Note: Plant creation, registration, and administrative setup are handled in the System Administration domain.
Plant Roles & Responsibilities
- Operators: Direct control of plant equipment, must be workers locked-on to the site
- Mobile Plant Controllers (MPCs): Remote oversight of plant operations, must be workers locked-on to the site
- Site Protectors: Overall plant operational control, authorisation for lock-on/off and handovers
Both Operator and MPC roles can be assigned to any worker currently locked-on to the worksite. The Site Protector is responsible for ensuring the incoming worker is qualified for the assigned role. This distinction reflects the different levels of responsibility and safety criticality.
Plant Identification Methods
- QR Code Scanning: Primary method for known/registered plant
- Manual Identification: Fallback for miscellaneous or unregistered plant
- Plant Registry Integration: Links to system administration plant database
Integration with Worker Operations
Plant operations is tightly integrated with worker operations:
- Plant operators and MPCs must be workers locked-on to the site
- Worker lock-off verification prevents locking off active plant operators
- Handover processes validate worker availability and site access
Jobs to be Done (JTBD)
| Actor | JTBD | Success Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Site Protector | Lock plant onto worksite safely and efficiently | Plant is active, properly assigned, and tracked in system |
| Site Protector | Hand over plant control to qualified operators | New operator has control, handover is recorded, no operational gaps |
| Site Protector | Lock plant off when no longer needed | Plant is safely removed from protection, audit trail maintained |
| Plant Operator | Receive plant control through proper handover | Clear understanding of plant status and operational authority |
| MPC | Oversee plant operations remotely | Real-time visibility of plant status and operator assignments |
Key Interactions & Dependencies
- Depends On: System Administration for plant creation and registration
- Integrates With: Worker Operations for operator validation and lock-off verification
- Supports: Protection Management by providing plant status for worksite protection
Assumptions & Out of Scope
Assumptions
- Plant operators and MPCs are properly trained and authorised workers
- QR codes are physically attached to plant and readable under worksite conditions
- Site Protectors have authority to manage all plant operations on their worksites
Out of Scope
- Plant procurement, registration, and administrative lifecycle (handled in System Administration)
- Plant maintenance schedules and technical specifications
- Financial tracking of plant usage and costs
- Plant routing and logistics between worksites
Requirements Index
- REQ-PLANT-001: Locking Known Plant QR
- REQ-PLANT-002: Locking Miscellaneous Plant Manually
- REQ-PLANT-003: Plant Handover
- REQ-PLANT-004: Plant Lock-off
Domain-Specific Decisions
No domain-specific ADRs currently documented