Onboarding plan
Wellhead Pumper Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new wellhead pumper from first day to full productivity.
Wellhead Pumper 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: SafeLand USA, H2S Clear (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: pumpjacks; gauging tapes; gas monitors; SCADA apps
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Wellhead Pumper training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Wear H2S monitors and stand upwind
- Never reach past guards
- Check in when working alone
- Drive defensively on lease roads
- Shadow an experienced wellhead pumper 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: gauge a tank safely
- Supervised practice: check a pumpjack
- Supervised practice: respond to a small spill
- 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.
- Check wells on a daily route: independently
- Gauge tanks and record production: independently
- Adjust pumps, chokes and timers: independently
- Inspect for leaks and spills: 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, SafeLand USA)
- Discuss the career path: Roustabout → Pumper → Lead Pumper
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauge a Tank Safely | |||
| Check a Pumpjack | |||
| Respond to a Small Spill | |||
| Pump and wellhead operation | |||
| Tank gauging | |||
| Production reporting | |||
| Basic 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 Wellhead Pumper training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Wellhead Pumper Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Wellhead Pumper 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 Wellhead Pumper Career
- Final Knowledge Check