Jason - Nothing personal intended. Simply replying to your question on an open forum. I responded using the current training standards in use for all instructors in the UK who operate under UK Health & Safety 1974, PUWER 1998, LOLER 1998, ACOP L117, MHASAWA 1999 and the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2008.

Those of us who are accredited instructors through one of the 6 accrediting bodies and who operate under that accreditation do certainly instruct all our students to operate in that manner and using those techniques. Our training is invalid if we don't. This forks issue is not open for interpretation here in the UK. If you travel with your forks in a manner that you have not been trained and have an accident that is reportable then you could be liable to prosecution under UK H&S law. Simple. Forks tilted back here!

I see little point in labouring over something that to most would appear to be very good practice and one that prevents more issues than it raises.

I'm not certain to what training standards or instructional manuals you follow. Mine are clear and serve me very well. You asked a question. I responded with current training practices that have been used for in excess of 20 years. If you disagree so strongly with those then perhaps you could take it up with ITSSAR, RTITB, AITT, NPORS and the HSE and HSC in the UK. Im sure they'd like to here what you have to say.

Cheers

Jonah