Coastguards can't start a rescue until they fill out a healthy and safety assessment

Coastguards have been ordered to fill in a health and safety questionnaire before they can respond to calls for help.

All 400 of Britain's rescue units have been told that before they travel to an accident scene they must complete a 'vehicle pre-journey risk assessment'.

It is feared lives may be lost as vital minutes could be taken up with the assessments just as rescuers are preparing their response to emergency callouts.

Under the new rules, the teams have to take the time to answer four questions on the type of rescue and journey they are about to undertake.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1123031/Coastguards-start-rescue-healthy-safety-assessment.html