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”
Grinder (2781-20) with a 4 ½” Diamond Premium Blade (49-93-8008) and Cutting Dust Shroud (49-40-6110). 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
60.3 minutes
Average Feet
Cut
30.43 ft
% Silica
(Quartz) in
Sample
15%
Average Respirable
Crystalline Silica
Concentration
(µg/m³)
16.37 µg/m³ TWA
OSHA PEL in
1926.1153
(µg/m³)
50 µg/m³
• All cutting was performed using a Milwaukee M18™ FUEL™ 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (0910-20) paired with
the M18™ FUEL™ 4 ½” /5” Grinder (2781-20) with a 4 ½” Diamond Premium Blade (49-93-8008) and Cutting
Dust Shroud (49-40-6110).
• Each trial consisted of multiple
¾” deep cuts through a 4’ X 4’ X 8’ concrete block.
• 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 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.
* ¾” deep cutting reflects the dust generating application used in this test, the table below suggest other cutting distances
1/16”
5/64”
1/8”
0.25”
557
445
278
0.5”
278
222
138
0.75”
185
148
92
1”
138
110
69
1.25”
110
88
55
1.5”
92
73
45
1.75”
79
63
39
2”
69
55
34
2.25”
61
49
30
Blade Width
Cut Depth
and depths, based on volume of dust, would also be compliant when using the Milwaukee M18™ FUEL™ 6 Gallon
Wet/Dry Vacuum.
Details on how to properly implement as a part of a complete exposure plan are outlined below*:
Maximum Feet Cut per Day**
*These calculations are offered for reference and are calculated values based on previously recorded test data and
represent a full workday of the tested application
** The user must cut the same amount or less than the amount listed above for the given application in order to be
considered compliant with the objective data clause of 29 CFR 1926.1153 OSHA regulation on crystalline silica dust.
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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