A Dangerous Job

“Miners Trapped by Explosion” “Miners Trapped by Burning Belt” “Miners Trapped by Fire” With startling frequency, the news headlines have recently drawn the nation’s attention to the dangers associated with working in deep mines. Lives have been lost, and legislatures have scrambled to update mine safety regulations as a response to these disasters. At times we become frustrated by some of the health and safety regulations that the government generates, but we need to appreciate the fact that our government places enough value on human life that they take measures to protect the health and welfare of their citizens.
We believe that human life is sacred; that is, it belongs to God. Because human life is sacred, God expects us to guard it with special care. This involves protecting ourselves and others from known dangers. From the news coverage of the mining accidents, we get the feeling that mining is a dangerous job which really is not the truth. A listing of the ten most dangerous jobs in the nation for the year 2004 shows logging to be first, farming and ranching sixth, and sales workers and truck drivers as ninth most likely to die on the job. Operating equipment and driving vehicles are very dangerous jobs. Yet, we do these things so frequently that we become accustomed to them and forget that they represent a great threat to our life.
We do well to remind ourselves that God is the author of the oldest health and safety regulations. The most powerful and most dangerous piece of “equipment” available to the Israelites was the ox. Oxen had horns and great strength and, if not properly trained or restrained, could easily injure or kill other animals or people. In Exodus 21, God gave laws concerning the liability of owning oxen. If the owner was aware that past actions proved his ox to be a danger to others, the penalty for injury caused by the beast became more severe. Today we no longer use oxen, but God still expects us to protect life, both our own and that of others, as we operate equipment. I believe God expects us to use seat belts and child-safety seats. How can God be pleased if we disconnect safety features or discard shields? Can we lightly dismiss the reports of the dangers of using a cell phone when driving and still believe human life is sacred? Is a person any less dead if they are killed as a result of our speeding or reckless driving than if we carelessly handled a rifle and shot them? Under the Law, a person who disregarded basic safety and occasioned the injury of another person faced a fine; and one who caused the death of another faced the death penalty or an “uncapped” fine (Exodus 21:29-32). Even if they were only required to pay a fine, they still needed to live in a city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Would we be any more careful if we knew that if we accidentally caused another’s death we either would be executed or would need to live within the Chicago or Philadelphia city limits until the death of the Supreme Court Chief Justice? Should it make any difference if we really believe human life is sacred and belongs to God? We need to remind ourselves and to impress upon our youth that operating machinery or a vehicle is a dangerous job. Human life is sacred, and God expects us to do all that we can to safeguard it no matter whether it is in a mine, on the farm, or on the highway.

Ronald K. Martin