Paddy when you say reach truck I assume your are talking about a mast reach unit vs a panotgraph reach. If so the mast reach unit has a rated capacity when the mast is fully extended towards the front load wheels, there by making the unit a counterbalanced type machine.

I recall when I was in Japan at the NICHIYU (then called NYK) factory their operators used the units (mast reach type) with the mast fully extended the majority of the time (loaded or empty), very seldom did I observe the units operated with the mast retracted. When I inquired about this the main reason given for this was it takes too much time to retract the mast.
Maybe this is why the auditor says counterbalanced training is also required. No comments on the liquid handling issue.