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™ 12 Gallon Dual-Battery Wet/Dry Vacuum Kit (0930-22) 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 (4940-6110). 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
60.6 minutes
Average # of
Feet Cut
32.66 ft
% Silica
(Quartz) in
Sample
N/A
Average Respirable
Crystalline Silica
Concentration
(µg/m³)
< 4.6 µg/m³ TWA
OSHA PEL in
1926.1153
(µg/m³)
50 µg/m³
<: Less than. The analyte, if present, is at a level too low to be accurately quantified by the method used. The actual amount in the sample
is less than the reported value.
N/A= Not available. The percent silica could not be quantified as the weight gain on the filter was too low.
• All cutting was performed using a Milwaukee M18™ FUEL™ 12 Gallon Dual-Battery Wet/Dry Vacuum Kit
(0930-22) 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.
• Concrete blocks were poured from a 5000 PSI concrete mix.
• A new HEPA filter was used for each new trial.
• The Vacuum was turned to low speed.
• 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.
7/64”
1/8”
5/32”
11/64”
0.25”
1,226
1,072
858
780
0.5”
613
536
429
390
0.75”
408
357
286
260
1”
306
268
214
195
1.25”
245
214
171
156
1.5”
204
178
143
130
1.75”
175
153
122
111
2”
153
134
107
97
2.25”
136
119
95
86
Blade Width
Cut Depth
* ¾” deep cutting reflects the dust generating application used in this test, the table below suggest other cutting distances
and depths, based on volume of dust, would also be compliant when using the Milwaukee M18™ FUEL™ 12 Gallon
Dual-Battery Wet/Dry Vacuum.
Details on how to properly implement as a part of a complete exposure plan are outlined below*:
Maximum Number of 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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