Onboarding plan
Derrick Operator Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new derrick operator from first day to full productivity.
Derrick Operator onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: IADC RigPass, IADC WellSharp (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: monkeyboard and fall protection; mud balance; marsh funnel; mud pumps
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Derrick Operator training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Stay 100 percent tied off at heights
- Watch for kick indicators
- Wear H2S monitors
- Use chemical PPE when mixing mud
- Shadow an experienced derrick operator through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: check mud weight
- Supervised practice: work safely on the monkeyboard
- Supervised practice: spot a kick
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Handle pipe from the monkeyboard: independently
- Mix and condition drilling mud: independently
- Test mud weight and properties: independently
- Maintain mud pumps and solids control: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, IADC RigPass)
- Discuss the career path: Floorhand → Derrickhand → Driller
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check Mud Weight | |||
| Work Safely on the Monkeyboard | |||
| Spot a Kick | |||
| Pipe handling | |||
| Drilling fluids | |||
| Mud testing | |||
| Pump maintenance |
How to measure onboarding success
- Weeks to first qualification sign-off
- Procedure compliance and safety observations
- Recordable incidents and near-misses
- First-year retention
How Derrick Operator training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Derrick Operator Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Derrick Operator Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Derrick Operator Career
- Final Knowledge Check