The vertical panel saw $($VPS$)$

KH offers a woodcutting service. Customers purchase the wood in store and have it cut, or they can bring in their own wood to be cut. This is carried out using a VPS that has been in use since the store opened. The VPS is located at the back of the store, between the two sets of automatic sliding doors for the outside areas, that are constantly opening and closing.

The task of carrying out the cutting is not allocated to one individual worker. Instead, there are five workers who are trained on how to operate the VPS safely. Depending on which of the workers are available each day, they decide between themselves who will do the cutting on that day. Whenever Worker X is working, they always volunteer to take on this role and the SM is happy with this arrangement. Worker X then takes on tasks in the area close to the VPS$,$ this way they are nearby when a customer wants to use the cutting service. Worker Y also likes to work on the cutting service, but the SM has noticed that Worker Y is often breathless and coughs a lot while working on the VPS$.$ The SM is conscious that the customers do not want to be near someone who is coughing, while waiting for their wood cutting to be done.

Recently, Worker X has noticed that there has been a steady increase in the demand for the wood cutting service in general, but the weekends are the busiest days. Some days, Worker X spends several hours working on the VPS$.$ A pair of earmuffs $($ear defenders$)$ and eye protection are available for use by the workers. Most workers do not use the old and dirty earmuffs. The VPS originally had an on$-$tool extraction system but, some time ago, workers complained that this made the blade difficult to position accurately, so it was removed. Dust tends to build up along the length of

the VPS and on the floor around it$.$ Workers use a broom to sweep the wood dust into a pile around the back of the VPS at the end of each day. This pile of dust is vacuumed up every few days.. The OH explains that other possible control measures will need to be considered for both noise and dust control.$($b$)$ Supporting document $2$ suggests what an employer must consider when controlling exposure to hazardous substances such as wood dust.

What approach must an employer consider when deciding how to control exposure to wood dust?Supporting document $2$

Extract of article from Woodworking

Monthly trade magazine

Supporting document $2$: Extract of article from Woodworking Monthly trade magazine DI ONLY

DI$2-0006-$ENG$-$OBE$-$V$1$ May $2024($c$)$ NEBOSH $2024$

The sludy was a warning for this hardware store chain

especialiy when vewed alongside the occupational exposure

im ts tor wood dust that arc a