Vox: Arnold Escobar leaves his apartment under the hot sun of Odessa, Texas, a desert region abundant in oil nicknamed the Texas Petroplex, drives past oil derricks and pumpjacks, to a remote well site where heavy machinery whirs loudly.
He slowly walks along the plant to get to the two-ton blender he operates and starts his work day, a long shift that can last 48 hours--not worried about any dangers.
I feel like my job is an important one, said Escobar, 24.
Escobar is a Senior Equipment Operator...