What is the main responsibility of the employee in charge when work is being performed by contractors?

The primary responsibility of the employee in charge when contractors are performing work is to ensure that the work does not foul a track unless proper protection measures are in place. This is crucial because fouling a track can create hazardous conditions not only for the contractors and the work being performed but also for the trains that rely on the safe use of the tracks.

When work is performed near or on rail tracks, maintaining safety is paramount. The employee in charge must ensure that procedures are followed to prevent any unauthorized access to the tracks, which could potentially lead to dangerous situations. By ensuring that the work is properly protected before any fouling occurs, the employee helps facilitate a safer working environment and prevents disruptions to train operations.

Other options address important considerations in the work process, such as train schedules and regulatory compliance, but they do not specifically capture the critical aspect of track fouling which directly relates to the conditions surrounding on-track safety.