Deseret News | Reader comments: How much is a miner's life worth?

Reader comments
How much is a miner's life worth?

Camille | 4:20 a.m. Nov. 4, 2007

How can you put a price tag on a persons life? Life is priceless!

mom | 10:49 a.m. Nov. 4, 2007

They knew the danger they put themselves in the first place. Mining is a very dangerous job. They should have made sure that they had plenty of insurance. You can't place a price on life but preparation for the inevitable is only the smart thing to do.

HarryL | 11:40 a.m. Nov. 4, 2007

It's not about the value of a life, rather it is about compensating for the loss of a life. Sadly, a lot of this can be made up for by term life insurance offered by an employer, but workers often don't think about this. Most employers are paternalistic and workers, especially if there is a union, think at times someone else is going to help them; but people can't think about being dead, only the effects it will have on others. I personally feel that death in the workplace that is not caused by negligence should be at minimum twice the annual wage, not the earnings because the earnings could be less. On top of that employers should offer term life insurance as well to those who want it.

Comments continue below

Good Morning Mom | 11:42 a.m. Nov. 4, 2007

Just miss my mom, and wanted to say good morning...

I believe the article said these limits were set by our state legislatures. Wouldn't it be nice if they put as much effort into workmans comp. issues as they did school vouchers? Wouldn't have been nice if we recieved something from our elected leaders pushing for workman's comp reform?

Sure they knew the dangers, but probably thought safety issues were in place that weren't.

At least Governor Huntsman flew up in a helicopter.

That should help pay the bills.

Barb | 12:04 p.m. Nov. 4, 2007

It is really sad about the Crandall Canyon mine disaster. My heart goes out to all of the families involved. In Carbon County there are not very many high paying jobs,either in the mines or at the power plants. I have 2 brothers that work at local coal mines. If anything were to ever happen to them I am not sure how I could deal with it. The mines are very dangerous, I went in Soldier Creek Coal one time and I really appreciated what miners do for a living.It is a dangerous place to be underground working. I wish not only for my 2 brothers safety but for everyone involved that there would be someway to make the coal mines safer.I hope that all coal miners could be safer in the mines.

Anonymous | 12:19 p.m. Nov. 4, 2007

The Republican Party believes worker are the root of America's problems. Workers demand livable wages. They require medical care. They are lazy. They should stop whining and start competing with slave labor in Communist China. Too conservatives, a worker's life is priceless because it's worthless.

Joyce | 9:33 p.m. Nov. 4, 2007

Too many companies do care how many people died for greed they have concerning the bottom line called Profit

Nick | 10:10 p.m. Nov. 4, 2007

I don't understand why some people's lives are worth more than others. One reason miners have higher salaries is to compensate somewhat for the higher risks of mining. The workers can always choose to carry insurance policies to provide for their families in case of death.

Many times, people working in much lower paying jobs are given nothing if they are killed on the job. So these families have nothing saved because they only make enough to pay their monthly living expenses.

The mining accident was a tragedy and mining safety conditions should be improved. Miners should be protected as much as possible. They should also plan ahead and save some of their hard earned money and use some of it for insurance so their families will be taken care of it case of a disaster.

Phil | 1:00 a.m. Nov. 5, 2007

Companies have to have this insurance. The insurance companies have to jump though all these hoops to be legal under utah labor commission. Kind of a monopoly. Why do you think WCF of Utah has a billion dollars?

tw | 8:47 a.m. Nov. 5, 2007

i feel for the loss of these men, it is sad when any one dies. my ancestors went to emery county from whales just to start up the mining industry,well just like these men they knew the risks,but they had to provide for their families,many of them were killed in the coal mines of emery county,schofield,castle gate and many others. my husband used to work in one in latter years,he made good money,he knew of risks,we done fine,when he got laid off we had money to live on.we left the area and and never went back. people need to get on with their lives without thinking everyone needs to take care of them,

EMH | 10:47 a.m. Nov. 5, 2007

Have the miners never heard of Life Insurance? Why are they trying to blame Workers Compensation and the mine. Take control of your own life and quite looking for people to take care of you. They knew they were in a dangerous occupation, yet they did not make the necessary arrangements if the unthinkable happened, which it did. There is no one to blame but themselves for the predicament they left their families in. All of us should use this as a teaching moment and make sure our families are taken care of in the event we die unexpectedly. Buy life insurance!!!!!

K | 11:27 a.m. Nov. 5, 2007

Just so you know, UtahAmerican Energy DOES offer life insurance to their employees at a very reasonable cost...it's something like $10.00 a payday or something. My husband works for them.

If you have any knowledge or anyone is your family working in the coal mining industry, you KNOW that you should have extra insurance. It's only common sense! (We have 3 different policies.)

I agree with whoever said that wages are higher in this industry to compensate for the higher risks. Makes sense...Do a little planning ahead.

K | 11:32 a.m. Nov. 5, 2007

P.S. I am a little offended by the title of the article...My husband's life is priceless to my family and myself. But, if the unthinkable ever did happen, at least money will be the last of my concerns. Because he was willing to plan ahead.

Dave | 12:16 p.m. Nov. 5, 2007

Under the current UMWA contract, the death benefit to the family of a working miner who is killed in an incident like Crandall Canyon on $160,000. That is in addition to any life insurance a miner may have purchased either through the company or individually.

Very Selfish! | 1:00 p.m. Nov. 5, 2007

The families already demanded millions of pointless dollars be spent desperately searching for dead bodies which lead to more deaths, their complaints caused the firing of hundreds of other miners in the area, and now they are complaining that they aren't going to get millions for death benefits because they chose to keep $100 a year in cash instead of buying life insurance? I wish somebody could sue them!

Dave | 1:04 p.m. Nov. 5, 2007

P.S. Sorry, that should have said "IS $160,000." Unfortunately, the Crandall Canyon miners weren't UMWA members.

logical | 3:43 p.m. Nov. 5, 2007

When you ask "what is a life worth" the answer is obviously that it is priceless. A soldier killed in the line of duty these days is "worth" $150,000, a coal miner is "worth" $160,000 plus whatever the lawyers can squeeze from other sources. If people would realize that financial gain will never bring their loved one back but only continue the destruction maybe we would have more attorneys on the unemployment line and we would all be better off. I feel for the families but money isn't the answer to all of our problems.

Gene | 7:06 a.m. Nov. 6, 2007

I think the article is somewhat misleading. You indicate the benefit is about $176,000 for the widow.

It later says after six years, the widow could receive indefinite benefits, if they are needed. Therefore, the widows of these minors can seek lifetime benefits.

I guess that isn't a headline but you should outline the full benefits due at the beginning.

Anonymous | 6:42 a.m. Nov. 10, 2007

Know all the facts before you start saying things about the families. It is very hurtful to us when you say this kinds of things."very selfish"

o.short2/21/08 | 9:59 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

There is no amount of money that could replace my husband, but mining took his life with black lung which is a silent killer. After 34 years in the mines working back when you had to hand load , no safety regarding dust, and guess what, he died, trying to breathe, but didn't have any black lung when it come to getting any black lung benefits. You don't have to die in the mines, it will kill you sooner or later, without any thank you or benefits for families. No attorney would touch a case to represent you in your time of need.

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