Onboarding plan
Extraction Helper Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new extraction helper from first day to full productivity.
Extraction Helper 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: MSHA training, SafeLand (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: hand tools; pipe wrenches; shovels; pressure washers
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Extraction Helper training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Attend JSAs
- Wear PPE
- Know H2S procedures
- Stop unsafe work
- Shadow an experienced extraction helper 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: be safe as a new field worker
- Supervised practice: help rig up equipment
- Supervised practice: learn a crew’s work fast
- 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.
- Carry tools and supplies: independently
- Clean equipment: independently
- Help set up drills: independently
- Move pipe: 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, MSHA training)
- Discuss the career path: Helper → Floorhand or Miner → Driller or Operator
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be Safe as a New Field Worker | |||
| Help Rig Up Equipment | |||
| Learn a Crew’s Work Fast | |||
| Tool handling | |||
| Equipment cleaning | |||
| Rigging basics | |||
| Material handling |
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 Extraction Helper training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Extraction Helper Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Extraction Helper 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 Extraction Helper Career
- Final Knowledge Check