OSHA Issues Fines Totaling $3.5 Million for Chemical Spill Response

Three employers have been issued a combined $3.5 million in OSHA penalties for failing to protect workers during cleanup of a sulfuric acid spill in Channelview, Texas. The incident occurred at the BWC Terminals facility on Dec. 27, 2025, and resulted in “multiple employee injuries,” according to an OSHA press release.

OSHA found that BWC inappropriately mixed fresh and spent sulfuric acid, which caused excessive pressure in a storage tank and led to the release of 1 million gallons of the substance. An EPA description of the incident indicates that some of the sulfuric acid entered the Houston Ship Channel, two ships were evacuated, and nearby businesses were ordered to shelter in place. News reports indicate that two people were hospitalized and more than 40 were treated at the scene.

According to OSHA, BWC hired Coastal Environmental Solutions Inc. to clean up the spill, which subcontracted the work to One Way Environmental Services LLC. One Way received 18 willful and five serious violations and was fined more than $3 million for failing to provide cleanup workers with adequate training, respirator fit tests, or safety measures. The penalty is among the largest OSHA has issued.

Coastal Environmental received two willful and five serious violations related to deficiencies in training, emergency response planning, and respirator use. The six serious violations BWC received were for exposing workers to chemical burns, inadequate training, and deficient respirator use.

For more information, read the OSHA press release.