The United Steelworkers asked OSHA whether dissolvable laundry bags — designed to dissolve in hot water during laundering — satisfy the beryllium standard's requirement that contaminated work clothing and PPE be stored and transported in sealed bags or other closed containers that are impermeable (29 CFR 1910.1024(h)(2)(v)).
OSHA laid out a two-part test for impermeability. First, material closure: the bag must be made of material that, when closed, does not allow particles or dust to escape. Second, structural integrity: the bag must be of sufficient quality so it cannot be punctured or torn in the specific situation of its use, storage, or transport.
If a dissolvable bag satisfies both requirements, OSHA considers it compliant — the fact that it is engineered to dissolve during hot-water laundering does not disqualify it. The compliance determination depends on the manufacturer's quality and integrity testing, including input from downstream employers about how the bags perform under normal use conditions.