Volume Hiring Best Practices for Refineries and Plant Shutdowns

The High-Stakes Nature of Shutdowns

Plant turnarounds and refinery shutdowns require an incredible surge in manpower for a very condensed period. Every hour of downtime costs thousands (or millions) of dollars, meaning your temporary workforce must be highly skilled, perfectly synchronized, and absolutely committed to safety.

Pre-Planning is Everything

Successful volume hiring begins months before the shutdown. Identifying the exact ratio of skilled trades (pipefitters, welders, electricians) to general laborers and safety watches allows for targeted recruitment campaigns and avoids last-minute scrambling.

Streamlined Onboarding and Orientation

When onboarding 50 to 500 workers simultaneously, administrative bottlenecks can derail the schedule. Implementing digital onboarding, bulk ticket verification, and coordinated site orientations ensures the crew gets onto the tools on day one.

The Role of a Staffing Partner

Managing a massive influx of temporary workers is a logistical nightmare for internal HR. WORKFORCE specializes in shutdown staffing. We deliver entire, pre-vetted crews, manage the payroll and WCB, and provide on-site coordination to ensure flawless execution.

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