Posted By Richard Webber
Bob,
Whilst on site all contractors (including You) are under the overall control of the Principal Contractor.

It is the duty of the Principal Contractor to ensure that all the various sub-contract packages on site are co-ordinated to ensure that one activity does not adversly affect another.

The Principal contractor must supply you with information regarding significant existing risks and site conditions at the time you tender for the job.
You should respond to this information by producing a safety method statement, including risk assessments as appropriate.

Your safety method statement must describe the work that you will be doing, the competency of the people doing it, the equipment that you will be using,the safe methods of work, access and egress etc.

The principal contractor should check your statement and approve it before you start work on site. He may ask you to revise parts of your statement to ensure compliance to his overall safety plan. You are obliged to cooperate with all reasonable safety related instructions.

Good reference documents are HSG 150 Health and safety in Construction,HSG 33 Health and Safety in Roof Work,and tha ACOP Managing construction for health and safety, all available from HSE Books.