A Lesson From the Coal Mines – Donald Winchester, Isla Veal vision.org

One glaring issue within humanity has been that of selfishness. On a corporate or industry level, self-interest tends to materialize as profit over safety. This article highlights one industry that personified this tendency – mining.

The coal mine industry was an extremely hazardous and deadly occupation from the onset. In 1907 for example, more than 3,000 miners lost their lives on the job. Those that managed to survive the day-to-day ended up paying with their health by contracting diseases like the common black lung disease (pneumoconiosis).

Through different pressures (financial, governmental, worker morale, etc,) over time the industry adopted a ‘care for their employee’ priority over that of short-term profit. Motives aside, this mindset of caring for others transformed the industry into one that is a model for employee safety. They also found this new approach did not sacrifice profit but proved just the opposite – profitability improved.

Whether in the form of a corporation, or society in general or as individuals, forgetting your responsibility of looking out for your neighbor (Rom 13:9) only ends in loss and suffering.