Reach Stacker SWMS

For container depots, logistics yards, ports and freight operators that move and stack shipping containers with reach stackers. It follows the work from the pre-start check through yard planning, travelling, lifting, stacking and loading trucks to refuelling, shutdown and emergency response. Container lashing and twistlock handling is not covered and needs its own SWMS.

Operating a reach stacker in a container yard is not construction work by itself, so the high risk construction work list in WHS Regulation s 291 does not apply and no item is pre-ticked. A SWMS is required by law only for high risk construction work (s 299); otherwise this document works as a written safe work procedure and task risk assessment that a yard owner or customer may still ask for. If the job forms part of construction work, tick the items on the form that apply, such as movement of powered mobile plant, work beside a road in use by traffic, or work near energised electrical installations or services. A reach stacker of greater than 3 t capacity needs a high risk work licence (Schedule 3 item 23).

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Reach Stacker SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Reach stacker tip-over when travelling or lifting
• Blind spots hiding pedestrians and low objects
• Collisions with trucks, pedestrians and other plant
• Containers dropped from the spreader or poorly locked
• Unknown container mass and shifted loads
• Stacks collapsing or landed unevenly
• Truck drivers crushed during loading and unloading
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Falls from the cab and access steps
• Night work, wind, rain and poor visibility
• Heat and fatigue on long shifts
• Hydraulic oil injection, fire and servicing hazards

High Risk Construction Work

No high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this work is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick the items that apply to your job, such as a fall risk of more than 2 metres or work where powered mobile plant is moving.

Licences, Training and Competency

• High risk work licence for the reach stacker class (Schedule 3 item 23: a reach stacker of greater than 3 t capacity that has an attachment for lifting, moving and travelling with a shipping container); a slewing mobile crane licence class (items 15 to 18) also lists use of a reach stacker
• A forklift truck licence (items 24 and 25) is a different class: Schedule 19 defines a forklift truck by a mast and elevating load carriage with fork arms, so it does not authorise a reach stacker
• A person training towards a licence may operate only under the supervision of a licence holder (WHS Regulation s 82(1))
• Verification of competency on the make and model of reach stacker and spreader or attachment used, including its load chart and emergency lowering
• Training for yard pedestrians and truck drivers in the yard traffic rules, exclusion zones and safe areas
• Site induction for workers, drivers and visitors
• First aid equipment, facilities and trained first aiders (or access to them) as the work needs (WHS Regulation s 42)

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): s 213 (maintenance and inspection of plant), ss 214 and 215 (powered mobile plant) and s 219 (plant that lifts or suspends loads)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): Schedule 3 item 23 (reach stacker licence class)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 54 and 55 (falling objects), ss 56 and 57 (noise)
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks in Stevedoring Code of Practice 2023 (written for stevedoring operations and used here as good practice for container yards)
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones in sections 10 to 13 and schedule 2
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (distances come from the 2026 Regulation)
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work (model code, not approved in Queensland; guidance only)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (15 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.