High Risk Work Licence - Reach Stacker (RS) study guide
High Risk Work Licence - Reach Stacker (RS) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Reach Stacker (RS) licence is a high risk work licence for operators who use a reach stacker to lift, move and stack containers and other loads, typically in ports, intermodal terminals and heavy freight yards. It is aimed at people who already work around container handling equipment and need to be assessed as competent to operate a reach stacker unsupervised. The High Risk Work Licence - Reach Stacker (RS) study guide has 10 sections and about 2,772 words.
01Legislation, Standards and Duty of Care for Reach Stacker Operations
A reach stacker is high-risk plant, and the operator sits at the centre of a chain of duties. Know the shape of the law rather than memorising section numbers: a general duty to ensure health and safety so far as reasonably practicable sits on the person conducting the business (PCBU), and a parallel duty sits on workers to take reasonable care of themselves and others, follow instructions and report hazards.
386 words, about 2 min02Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control
Hazard identification is systematic, not incidental. Walk the task: what plant, substances, people, environment and energy sources are involved?
298 words, about 1 min03Reach Stacker Components, Stability and Load Charts
The reach stacker is a counterbalanced machine with a telescopic boom and a spreader (or other attachment) that handles containers. Key elements: chassis and counterweight, outriggers where fitted, boom with lift and crowd cylinders, spreader with twistlocks, tyres and axle loading, and a rated capacity (load moment) indicator with interlocks.
330 words, about 2 min04Pre-Operational Inspection, Maintenance and Defect Reporting
Pre-start inspection catches the failures that cause incidents: hydraulic leaks, damaged tyres, faulty interlocks, worn twistlocks, cracked welds. It is a documented, systematic check, not a glance.
275 words, about 1 min05Site Planning, Ground Conditions and Operating Area Set-up
Before the first lift, the operating area must be planned: traffic flow, pedestrian separation, container stacking layout, exclusion zones under the boom and load path, and emergency access. Reach stackers need firm, level, well-drained ground with adequate bearing capacity; soft ground, voids, trenches, drains and slopes all reduce stability and can cause overturning.
257 words, about 1 min06Load Handling, Stacking and Container/Attachment Selection
Safe handling means: verify the container (weight, condition, corner castings, placards for dangerous goods), confirm the spreader is correctly engaged on all four twistlocks, lift clear, check stability, then travel with the load low and the boom retracted as far as practicable. Never travel with a raised load over people or vehicles.
250 words, about 1 min07Communication, Signals, Spotting and Pedestrian/Vehicle Separation
Reach stacker work is a team task. Agree signals before work starts - hand signals, radio, or both - and use a designated spotter where the operator's view is obstructed.
247 words, about 1 min08Emergency Procedures, Incident Response and Shutdown
Know before you need it: location of fire extinguishers, spill kit, first aid, emergency contacts, isolation points, and the site emergency plan. Reach stacker emergencies include fire (fuel/hydraulic), hydraulic injection injury, load drop, overturn, contact with power lines, and person struck.
270 words, about 1 min09Shutdown, Securing, Parking and Post-Operational Checks
A machine left in an unsafe state is a hazard to the next person. Shutdown sequence: land the attachment/spreader safely on the ground or in its stowed position, retract the boom, apply the park brake, select neutral/park, lower outriggers if fitted, isolate the battery/electrics where required, remove the key, and secure the cab.
239 words, about 1 min10Environmental and Fuel/Handling Safety Considerations
Reach stackers use diesel and hydraulic oil. Refuelling requires: engine off, no ignition sources, bonding where required, spill kit available, and no smoking.
220 words, about 1 min