Question

QUESTION 2 (15 Marks)

The Case of the Collapsed Mine

In a town in West Virginia, miners were digging coal in a tunnel thousands of feet below the surface. Some gas build-up had been detected during the two preceding days, and the director of safety had reported it to the mine manager. The build-up was sufficiently serious to have temporally stopped operations until it was cleared. The manager of the mine decided that the build-up was only marginally dangerous, that he had coal orders to fill, that he could not afford to close down the mine, and that he would take the chance that the gas would dissipate before it exploded. He told the director of safety not to say anything about the danger. Two days later, the gas exploded. One section of the tunnel collapsed, killing three miners and trapping eight others in a pocket. The rest managed to escape.

The explosion was one of great force, and the extent of the tunnel’s collapse was considerable. The cost of reaching the men in time to save their lives would amount to several million dollars. The problem facing the manager was whether the expenditure of such a large sum was worth it. What, after all, was a human life worth? Who should make the decision, and how should it be made? Did the manager owe more to the stakeholders of the corporation or to the trapped workers? Should he use the slower, safer, cheaper way of reaching them and save a large sum of money, or the faster, more dangerous, more expensive way, and possibly save their lives.

He decided on the latter way and asked for volunteers. Two dozen of men volunteered. After three days, the operation proved to be more difficult than anyone had anticipated. There had been two more explosions, and three of those involved in the rescue operation had already been killed. In the meantime, telephone contact had been made with the trapped men, who had been fortunate enough to find a telephone line that was still functioning. They were starving. Having previously read about a similar case, they decided that the only way for them to survive long enough for any of them to be saved was to draw lots, and kill and eat the one who drew the shortest straw. They felt it was their duty that at least some of them be found alive; otherwise, the three who had died rescuing them would have died in vain.

After 20 days, seven men were finally rescued, alive; they had cannibalised their fellow miner. The director of safety, who had detected the gas before the explosion, informed the newspaper of his report. The manager was charged with criminal negligence, but before giving up his position, he fired the director of safety. The mine eventually resumed operation.

a) Discuss the ethical course of action that all parties in the case should have considered with specific focus on steps that would have constituted ethical behaviour. (10)



b) In your view, what action did the director of safety take to make it morally justifiable?

Answer 1

Answer:

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