MILWAUKEE TOOL
13135 West Lisbon Road • Brookfield WI 53005 • 262-781-3600
To Whom It May Concern,
Milwaukee®, in partnership with Industrial Hygiene Sciences, LLC, has conducted testing on the Milwaukee M18™
FUEL™ 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (0910-20) with HEPA filter (49-90-1977) paired with the M18™ FUEL™ 4 ½”/5”
SAG (2781-20), 4” Diamond Premium Cup Wheel (49-93-7700), and Surface Grinding Dust Shroud (49-40-7700).
Results show that the user will be below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) as described by OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153
when using the above combination, assuming it is used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Testing results
and procedures are outlined below:
Units Tested
Average Sample
Duration
66 minutes
% Silica (Quartz) in
Sample
11.5%
Average Respirable
Crystalline Silica
Concentration (µg/m³)
4.5 µg/m³ TWA
OSHA PEL in
1926.1153
(µg/m³)
50 µg/m³
• All grinding was performed using a Milwaukee M18™ FUEL™ 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (0910-20) paired
with the M18™ FUEL™ 4 ½”/5” SAG (2781-20), 4” Diamond Premium Cup Wheel (49-93-7700), and Surface
Grinding Dust Shroud (49-40-7700).
• Each trial consisted of five runs, totaling 45 minutes of grinding with short rests in between each run.
• A new HEPA filter was used for each new trial.
• The Vacuum was turned to low speed.
• Concrete blocks were poured from a 5000 PSI concrete mix.
• There was no cleaning of the filter or emptying of the tank during the trial.
• Work was performed in an enclosure with no outside ventilation. Ambient air cleaner with HEPA filtration was
used between each trial.
• Samples were collected on a 3-piece 37 mm diameter preweighed PVC filter mounted in a BGI GK2.69 respirable
dust sampler, run at 4.2 lpm and connected to a GilAir Plus air sampling pump. The flow rate through the
sampling train was measured using a TSI 4146 Calibrator before and after each Trial. A field blank was submitted
with each day’s set of samples.
• Samples and blank were analyzed using OSHA ID-142 by the Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory, an
AIHA Accredited laboratory. The sampling method used meets the definition of respirable crystalline silica in
1926.1153 (a) and Appendix A of the OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard (1926.1153).
• The Time Weighted Average (TWA) was calculated assuming zero exposure to respirable crystalline silica for the
non-sampled portion of a 480 minutes (8 hour) shift. Longer exposure times, assuming that the dust exposures
would be similar to those collected in these trials, would likely result in higher TWAs. Factors, including, but not
limited to, the ventilation and air flow patterns in the space where the work is done, how the tool is used, how
sharp the blade is, the user’s technique, the silica content of the cement board, how many cuts are made, the
presence of other respirable silica dust generating activities in the area, and vacuum maintenance could affect
actual user exposures.
It is the responsibility of the user to operate the tool in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. For the latest listings
of approvals, visit milwaukeetool.com. For technical or service assistance, contact Milwaukee Customer Service at 1-800729-3878.
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