WESTCOUNTRY coastguards are furious after being told they must fill out a health and safety form before responding to any emergencies, writes WMN chief reporter Andy Greenwood.

Rescue teams across the country have been told by their Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) superiors they must complete a "vehicle pre-journey risk assessment" prior to leaving for an incident. Coastguard volunteers fear it could delay their response to life-and-death situations.

One coastguard from the region, who asked not to be named, said the latest demands were "just stupid", adding: "It is another delay when we are trying to get out there. We feel they are putting barriers in our way to stop us doing our job which is preventing loss of life."

Feelings were already running high after flares, seen by some as vital equipment, were phased out and a Coastguard rescue boat in South Devon was controversially barred from launching on health and safety grounds.

The new rules force teams to answer four questions on the type of rescue and journey they are about to make.

The lead rescuer must detail the "reason for journey" and list any risks they may face including the current and forecast weather conditions.

It also demands an explanation of any "actions taken to mitigate risk" before the team leader can answer whether the risk is "acceptable" or not.

The volunteer from the Westcountry said no guidance had been issued with the forms. Some coastguards, he said, were now refusing to drive to emergencies, fearing they would be blamed if anything went wrong.

The pre-journey risk assessment form is designed for when coastguards use their specially equipped Land Rovers.

Unsurprisingly, the news was a hot topic on coastguard Internet forums yesterday where many expressed their disbelief.

One wrote: "I'm inclined to argue the fact that a written risk assessment has the need for a pen. That means that in this day and age, with the distinct possibility of sticking the pen in my eye, or heaven forbid someone else's by accident, I really should not put myself in such a hazardous position and as such I really can't expect any of my team to do so either.

"Along the same health and safety lines, we are looking into the toffee situation. As they tend to get cold and hard, there is the possibility of someone getting hurt by one.

"As this is the case, plans are afoot to replace them with the much safer substitute of pink and white marshmallows."

It is the latest health and safety wrangle to hit the MCA in a few months. In the summer, Coastguard bosses confiscated the Hope Cove rescue boat for a week after an unauthorised launch to save a drowning 13-year-old girl.

When it was returned, the crew were told they were banned from taking part in rescues if it meant taking it more than 500 yards out to sea. Strict conditions imposed on the 5.5 metre-long vessel mean it has effectively been banned from launching during the winter due to worsening weather and sea conditions.

A petition with more than 3,000 signatures has been presented to Parliament calling for the boat to be brought back into service. Another row blew up in November when the MCA was accused of withdrawing flares from service on health and safety grounds because they could "cause considerable injury".

That was denied by the agency, which insisted the flares were being phased out because they were largely obsolete.

A spokesman for the MCA insisted filling in the questionnaire would not cause any delay as it "can be done at the same time as the rest of the team prepare equipment". The spokesman said the risk assessment had been introduced to protect the coastguards' safety.