Posted By Geoff Burt Graham To put this another way then, and in a more general context, are you suggesting that: Self employed sub-contractors employed for their skills eg brickies, chippies etc, provide their own tools but do not have any responsibility for the quality or serviceability of them. Geoff

Posted By Geoff Burt This is normally got around by the main contractor/PC or whatever (in this case the window company) having provision in their contract with the sub-contractor (self employed in this case) to the effect that the sub-contractor is responsible for having his/her electrical equipment regularly tested. Some PCs will monitor this is happening but in the main it is either a token form of monitoring or it's left to the sub-contractor on the grounds you employ a skilled person to do a job and have the right to expect they will do it competently and safely. (real life!) If monitoring is in place it is more clear cut and the responsibility lies with the sub-contractor. Should there be a serious accident the PC would be the initial target but would be able to show they had systems in place and documentary proof they had been implemented. I suppose this is complicated slightly by the fact that an employer is automatically liable if faulty tools are supplied. A thought - a self employed person purchases his/her own tools - could they sue themselves? Geoff Geoff