Largely invisible tank cleaning industry awash in risk

"If rivers, rails and roads are the arteries of America's surging petrochemicals industry, tank and barge cleaners are its kidneys, purifying containers so they can return to refineries and to energy and chemical companies across the nation to be refilled," the Houston Chronicle reported. "But government health and safety experts don't know much about these cleaners, how many there are or where they're located, a Houston Chronicle investigation has found."

"OSHA does not even know how many tank cleaning establishments it has inspected, in part because no standard industry code is used by the U.S. Department of Labor for tracking and inspecting them."

Read the Chronicle's full story here.