Site Planning, Ground Conditions and Operating Area Set-up
Planning the area
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.
Ground conditions
Check for: bearing capacity (compacted hardstand vs. fill), slope (charts assume level), underground services and voids, and drainage. A tyre sinking into soft ground changes the geometry and reduces capacity.
Overhead and adjacent hazards
Overhead power lines require isolation or safe clearance; adjacent stacks, buildings and rail require clearance planning. Wind exposure is greater in open yards and at height.
Traps
- Questions assume the chart's "level ground" applies everywhere - it does not; verify it.
- Exclusion zones must cover the load path and the swing area, not just the machine footprint.
- Pedestrian and vehicle routes should be physically separated where practicable, not just marked.
Rule of thumb
Plan the lift so the load travels the shortest safe path, never over people, and never over ground you have not verified.