High Risk Work Licence - Reach Stacker (RS) study plan
High Risk Work Licence - Reach Stacker (RS) · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Reach stacker components, stability and load charts & Legislation, standards and duty of care for reach stacker operations
Label every major reach stacker component on a blank diagram from memory (boom, spreader, twistlocks, outriggers, counterweight, tyres, ROPS/FOPS, load moment indicator)
Explain how the load moment/stability system works and state the three factors that most reduce capacity (boom extension, boom angle/height, load centre)
Read a sample load chart and calculate the safe working load for four different boom/extension combinations
Summarise the duty-of-care obligations of the operator, the PCBU and the person directing the work under WHS legislation
List the licence, competency and high-risk work documentation requirements that apply before operating
Your checkpoint
A one-page load chart worksheet with four worked SWL calculations plus a component-labelling diagram scored at 90% or better
Reach stacker components, stability and load charts & Load handling, stacking and container/attachment selection
Match spreader/attachment type (fixed, telescopic, twin-lift, piggyback) to at least six container handling scenarios
Demonstrate the correct twistlock engagement and disengagement sequence and state the checks before lifting
Describe how to verify a container is empty/full, correctly oriented and within the rated load before lifting
Explain stacking rules: tier limits, wind loading, weight distribution and no-go stack configurations
Calculate total load including attachment weight and compare against the chart for three given jobs
Your checkpoint
A written scenario set of six lift jobs, each with the chosen attachment, calculated load, and justification, all correct
Hazard identification, risk assessment and control & Pre-operational inspection, maintenance and defect reporting
Complete a written risk assessment for a container yard task using the hierarchy of controls
Identify at least 15 hazards from a described yard layout and assign a control to each
Perform a pre-start inspection checklist in the correct sequence and record three simulated defects
Classify defects as minor/major/critical and state the correct reporting and tagging-out action for each
Describe the maintenance responsibilities of the operator versus the maintenance team
Your checkpoint
A completed risk assessment plus a filled pre-start inspection form with three defects correctly classified and actioned
Site planning, ground conditions and operating area set-up & Communication, signals, spotting and pedestrian/vehicle separation
Assess ground conditions (bearing capacity, slope, drainage, underground services) for three described sites and state accept/reject decisions
Lay out a safe operating area including exclusion zones, pedestrian walkways, traffic flow and stacking lanes
Explain the standard hand and radio signals used for reach stacker operations and the rules for an authorised spotter
Describe the blind spots of a reach stacker and the controls that manage them
Outline separation rules between pedestrians, light vehicles and heavy lifting equipment
Your checkpoint
A scaled site plan drawing showing traffic flow, exclusion zones, pedestrian routes and stacking positions, with a written justification
Load handling, stacking and container/attachment selection & Emergency procedures, incident response and shutdown
Walk through the correct lift sequence for a full container from approach to placement and release
Explain the response to a load shift, a dropped container and a hydraulic failure during a lift
State the emergency procedures for fire, fuel spill, tip-over and injury, including isolation and evacuation steps
Describe when and how to use the emergency lowering and shutdown systems
Explain incident notification and preservation-of-scene obligations
Your checkpoint
A written emergency response matrix covering five emergency scenarios with the correct sequence of actions for each
Legislation, standards and duty of care for reach stacker operations & Hazard identification, risk assessment and control & Pre-operational inspection, maintenance and defect reporting
Answer 40 mixed practice questions across legislation, risk control and inspection, scoring at least 85%
Re-study every missed question and write the correct reasoning for each
Explain how consultation, reporting and record-keeping obligations apply to daily operations
Review and refine your pre-start checklist against the manufacturer and site requirements
Your checkpoint
A practice test result sheet with a score of 85% or higher and written corrections for every wrong answer
Shutdown, securing, parking and post-operational checks & Environmental and fuel/handling safety considerations
Perform the full shutdown and parking sequence: boom stowed, spreader lowered, park brake, isolation, chocks, keys secured
Describe post-operational checks and how to record and hand over defects at end of shift
Explain fuel handling, refuelling controls, spill containment and battery/hydraulic fluid environmental controls
State the environmental controls for dust, noise, exhaust emissions and waste in a container yard
Your checkpoint
A written shutdown and post-operational checklist plus a one-page environmental controls summary
Legislation, standards and duty of care for reach stacker operations & Hazard identification, risk assessment and control & Reach stacker components, stability and load charts & Pre-operational inspection, maintenance and defect reporting & Site planning, ground conditions and operating area set-up & Load handling, stacking and container/attachment selection & Communication, signals, spotting and pedestrian/vehicle separation & Emergency procedures, incident response and shutdown & Shutdown, securing, parking and post-operational checks & Environmental and fuel/handling safety considerations
Complete two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions
Score at least 90% on both attempts
Revisit the two weakest domains and rewrite your summary notes for them
Recite the ten key safety rules and load chart fundamentals from memory
Your checkpoint
Two completed timed practice exams with scores of 90% or higher and a final one-page revision sheet
Milestones
Week 2: Can read a load chart and calculate a safe working load for any given configuration without notes
Week 4: Can complete a risk assessment and site layout plan unaided, scoring 80% or better on a peer/self check
Week 6: Scoring 85% or higher on the mixed practice test across legislation, risk and inspection
Week 8: Two timed practice exams at 90% or higher with all weak areas corrected