What certifications should be on the onboarding checklist before a new hire starts working on the floor?

Start compliant on day one

The cheapest time to confirm a certification is before someone starts, not after they have been on the floor for a month.

A new hire who begins with the required certifications in place never creates a gap you have to catch later.

List certifications by role

Different roles need different certifications. Map each role to its required credentials so onboarding checks the right ones.

A role-based list means no one guesses whether a new hire needs a forklift card or a food handler card.

Verify and record proof

Do not just ask whether a certification exists, verify it and store the proof as part of onboarding.

Recording proof at the start gives you a clean record from day one and a date to track for renewal.

Hand off to ongoing tracking

Once recorded, the certification flows into your normal expiry tracking, so onboarding and renewal are one continuous process.

This handoff is what keeps a good start from decaying into a lapse a year later. Confirm the requirements for each role, as this is general guidance, not legal advice.