The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing more than $3.5 million in fines against three companies for alleged worker safety violations connected to a massive sulfuric acid spill last December in Channelview, near the Houston Ship Channel.
The spill, which released approximately 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid — some of which entered the Houston Ship Channel — occurred when employees at BWC Terminals mixed fresh and contaminated sulfuric acid, creating tank overpressure that caused a supply line to rupture, according to OSHA’s findings. Two people were hospitalized and 44 individuals were treated for injuries at the scene.
The largest proposed fine, $3,045,452, targets One Way Environmental Services LLC, a subcontractor that OSHA alleges sent workers to clean up the spill without proper training, safety measures, or respirator fit tests. The company faces 18 willful egregious and five serious violations.
Coastal Environmental Solutions Inc., the contractor that hired One Way, faces $392,501 in fines for two willful and five serious violations, including alleged failures to properly train employees and create an emergency response plan for hazardous waste.
BWC Terminals, which operated the facility, faces $82,750 in fines for six citations including failing to provide hazardous materials training and deficiencies in respirator usage. The company said it is contesting OSHA’s findings.
“BWC does not agree that it bypassed OSHA requirements or took actions that put workers at risk, and we believe the record will reflect that,” the company said in a statement. “The safety of our employees, the surrounding community, and the environment is our highest priority.”
OSHA Assistant Secretary David Keeling said the companies’ failures were not accidental. “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,” he said. “Their joint failure to protect workers was not an oversight, it was a choice.”
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo praised the investigation, saying all companies must be held to the same standards and demanding accountability when standards are not met.
The Channelview spill has also prompted legal action beyond the OSHA citations. A lawsuit filed in January 2026 claims a worker suffered chemical exposure as a result of the leak, and additional litigation is possible given the scale of the incident and the number of individuals affected.
The Houston Ship Channel, one of the busiest petrochemical waterways in the world, has been the site of multiple industrial incidents in recent years. The Channelview spill highlights ongoing safety challenges in the region’s chemical handling and storage infrastructure, even as the industry has invested heavily in improved safety protocols.
The three companies have 15 business days from the citation date to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s local director, or contest the findings. Given that BWC Terminals has already indicated it will contest the citations, the case could take months or years to resolve through the regulatory appeals process and potential litigation.
