New Worker Onboarding Kit – Train, certify, and document in 72 hours
- On-Track Safety
- Oct 14
- 4 min read
If getting new hires productive and compliant has felt messy, you are not alone. Most companies wrestle with three friction points on week one: scattered training assignments, inconsistent orientation records, and unclear ownership for follow-ups. This playbook shows you exactly how to stand up a repeatable onboarding flow in 72 hours that gives supervisors clarity, protects the company at audits, and gets workers confident fast.
Why gaps show up in week one
Training is assigned when required, so nothing lines up with the role the person actually works in
Orientation records live in emails or paper stacks that nobody can find during an audit
Required safety certifications like WHMIS, Equipment Operation or First Aid get delayed until “when it slows down” and never quite happen
Supervisors assume HR owns the follow-up, while HR assumes the site owns it
What good looks like
A simple training matrix that maps roles to courses and expiry windows
A corporate training portal where you assign, track, and auto-remind
Required safety certification, like WHMIS, First Aid or Equipment training, is completed on day one for anyone handling controlled products or shipping
Orientation documentation stored in one place and searchable by name or date
Your 72-hour onboarding flow
Day 0 – Pre-hire setup: Sign up for a corporate training portal. Assign the role-based starter pack. Set reminders at 60 and 30 days before expiry for any certs that rotate. Start here: Create your free portal and save 20 percent for the first 3 months with code Train20 → LINK
Day 1 morning – Orientation and paperwork. Run a concise site orientation that covers policies, reporting, PPE, emergency response, and hazard communication. Capture sign-offs with two essentials:
Need a turnkey orientation package built to your operations? We build custom orientations and delivery options for field or office. Learn more → LINK
Day 1 afternoon – Day-one compliance: Assign required training so new workers understand labels, SDS, and shipping requirements before touching product or paperwork. Here are some examples that may need to be completed:
WHMIS & TDG Online Bundle – Covers hazard symbols, SDS, workplace labels
Workplace Violence & Harassment – Teaches workers their rights, reporting steps, and how to prevent workplace harassment and violence.
Hazard Assessment – Ensures workers can identify hazards, apply controls, and follow job hazard assessments (JHAs/JSAs).
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Explains correct PPE use, limitations, and care requirements.
Emergency Response (Canada) – Outlines procedures for fire, medical, and site-specific emergencies.
Fire Extinguisher Safety – Trains workers to recognize fire types and safely operate extinguishers.
Confined Space Entry & Monitor – Introduces confined space hazards, monitoring, and safe work requirements.
Fall Protection – Covers fall hazards, safe systems, and rescue basics.
Work Alone Awareness – Ensures workers know their responsibilities and safe practices when working independently.
Link to the whole store for other courses that may be applicable to your operations - LINK
Day 2 – Role-specific skills: Use short, targeted courses matched to actual job hazards. If your crews vary, pick from On-Track’s course catalogue and keep assignments narrow so workers finish quickly. Browse courses → LINK
Examples that fit many shops and yards:
Construction Safety Orientation → LINK
Day 3 – Field verification and coaching: Do a short, structured check in the work area. Confirm the worker can find SDS info, apply WHMIS labels correctly, and follow your job-specific safe work steps. Capture a quick observation using a one-page checklist and close any gaps with focused coaching. Store the record with the rest of the orientation file.
Forms and tools that make audits easy
Safety Orientation Questionnaire – Use alongside the New Worker Orientation Form to verify worker understanding and create a signed record.
Free Safety Downloads and Templates – Access ready-to-use PDFs like inspection checklists, hazard ID forms, and toolbox materials.
Custom Safety Forms and NCR Booklets – Order branded, multi-copy forms designed for your workflows, inspections, and documentation.
Toolbox Talks Library – Reinforce key safety topics during Week One with easy-to-use toolbox talks for supervisors.
If you need a full program behind the training, our safety manuals include an implementation checklist and are built for COR, SECOR, and contractor prequalification. Details → LINK
Helpful metrics to track
Percent of new hires with required training completed in 24 hours
Percent of new hires with all orientation documents stored in one location
Time to first supervisor check-in during week one
Training completion rate by role at 30 days
Small numbers are fine at first. Consistency is the goal.
Common myths that slow down onboarding
“We will add WHMIS when the job is steady.” Workers handle controlled products on day one. Training needs to match reality.
“Orientation records can live with the supervisor.” They disappear when that person goes on vacation. Store them centrally.
“We only need TDG in shipping.” If anyone offers, handles, or transports dangerous goods, they need the basics and a documented understanding.
Put this into practice with less admin
Stand up your training portal, load your roles, and assign the starter pack above. Use the questionnaire to document understanding and keep all records in one place. By day three you will have a trained worker, clean documentation, and reminders set for anything that expires.
Spin up your training portal in 5 minutes – Free setup, instant access to 1,500+ online safety courses.
Get day-one compliance with WHMIS & TDG – Essential orientation training for handling hazardous products and shipping requirements.
If you want help aligning the plan to your roles, reply to this newsletter with your worker types and top three hazards. We will recommend a focused training map you can run this week.
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