Onboarding plan
Ironworker Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new ironworker from first day to full productivity.
Ironworker 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: Apprenticeship completion, AWS structural welding certification (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: spud wrenches and sleever bars; impact wrenches; welding machines; chokers, shackles and tag lines
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Ironworker training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Use fall protection at all times as required by OSHA steel erection rules
- Stay out from under suspended loads
- Inspect rigging gear before every lift
- Stop work in high winds and lightning
- Shadow an experienced ironworker 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: rig a steel beam for lifting
- Supervised practice: make a bolted connection
- Supervised practice: signal a crane operator
- 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.
- Read blueprints and erection drawings: independently
- Signal cranes and rig steel members for lifting: independently
- Guide beams and columns into position: independently
- Bolt and weld connections: 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, Apprenticeship completion)
- Discuss the career path: Apprentice Ironworker → Journeyworker Ironworker → Foreman or Rigging Specialist
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rig a Steel Beam for Lifting | |||
| Make a Bolted Connection | |||
| Signal a Crane Operator | |||
| Rigging and crane signaling | |||
| Steel connection | |||
| Bolting and torque | |||
| Structural welding |
How to measure onboarding success
- Weeks until the new hire works without close supervision
- Recordable incidents and near-misses in the first 90 days
- Rework caused by new-hire errors
- Apprentice retention through year one
How Ironworker training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Ironworker Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Ironworker 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 Ironworker Career
- Final Knowledge Check