Three Employers Face $3.5 Million in Fines After Million-Gallon Sulfuric Acid Spill in Houston
HOUSTON — A chemical spill of staggering proportions — and the botched cleanup that followed — has left three employers facing more than $3.5 million in combined penalties. On June 26, 2026, OSHA announced the proposed fines against BWC Terminals LLC and two contractors after inspectors found workers were sent into a hazardous cleanup without the most basic protections.
The Incident
On December 27, 2025, BWC Terminals mixed fresh and spent sulfuric acid at its Channelview industrial facility — despite safety warnings. The mixture triggered a tank overpressure that ruptured a supply line, releasing 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid and injuring multiple employees.
The disaster then multiplied. BWC contracted Coastal Environmental Solutions Inc. to handle the hazardous waste cleanup, and Coastal in turn hired subcontractor One Way Environmental Services LLC to supply laborers for the remediation. According to OSHA, those laborers were sent into the acid cleanup without adequate training, respirator fit tests, or safety measures.
The Violations
The penalties break down across all three employers. One Way Environmental Services was cited for 18 willful egregious and five serious violations, drawing $3,045,452 in proposed penalties. Coastal Environmental Solutions faces $392,501 for two willful and five serious violations, including the lack of a training program, a safety and health program, and an emergency response plan for hazardous waste operations. BWC Terminals itself was cited with six serious violations for exposing workers to chemical burns, failing to provide hazmat training, and respirator deficiencies, totaling $82,750.
OSHA’s Stance
“Despite having full knowledge of the severe hazards involved in the spill and cleanup response, these three employers chose to bypass OSHA requirements and put their workers at serious risk,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Health and Safety David Keeling. “Their joint failure to protect workers was not an oversight, it was a choice that resulted in preventable employee injuries and environmental impacts. We will not hesitate to hold employers accountable when they ignore federal laws that are in place to protect workers’ safety and health.”
The companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Lessons to Take Home
Two lessons stand out for safety managers. First, ignoring warnings before mixing incompatible chemicals is how a facility problem becomes a regional disaster — eliminating a hazard at the source always beats managing the aftermath. Second, contracting out dangerous work does not contract out responsibility. Every employer in the chain, from the facility owner down to the labor subcontractor, was held accountable here.
Make sure everyone on your site knows what they’re handling and how to protect themselves — start with our detailed talk on hazardous chemicals.
