OSHA Enforcement/Post-Emergency Response/Chemical Spill Cleanup: Three Companies Cited for Alleged Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued a June 26th news release proposing more than $3.5 million in fines against three companies for alleged violations.

The alleged violations are stated to have involved failing to protect workers during post-emergency response cleanup after a chemical spill at the BWC Terminals LLC (“BWC”) industrial facility in Channelview, Texas.

OSHA is stated to have initiated three inspections after a December 27, 2025, sulfuric acid spill at the BWC industrial facility led to multiple employee injuries. 

BWC is stated to have contracted with Coastal Environmental Solutions Inc. following the spill to handle hazardous waste cleanup. Coastal Environmental Solutions hired subcontractor One Way Environmental Services LLC to provide laborers for the cleanup and remediation response.

The news release alleges the following in regard to the three companies:

• One Way Environmental Services LLC is cited for 18 willful egregious and 5 serious violations after investigators found the employer sent workers to clean up the chemical spill without adequate training, respirator fit tests, or safety measures; $3,045,452 in penalties is proposed.
• Coastal Environmental Solutions Inc. is cited for 2 willful and 5 serious violations that include a lack of training, a safety and health program, an emergency response plan for hazardous waste operations and emergency response, and deficiencies related to use of respirators; $392,501 in penalties is proposed.
• BWC is cited with 6 serious violations for exposing workers to chemical burns, failing to provide hazmat training, and deficiencies relating to the use of respirators. $82,750 in penalties is proposed.

The companies have 15 days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

A copy of the news release can be found here.