Life Insurance For Sherpas: A Matter Of Survival?

Sherpas are a Nepalese ethnic group renowned for their climbing skills and endurance at high altitudes. They are an invaluable part of mountaineering expeditions, acting as guides and porters, and performing tasks such as carrying heavy loads, setting up camps, and securing climbing routes. While they are well-paid by local standards, the job is extremely dangerous, with a high mortality rate. This has raised questions about the insurance coverage and financial protection provided to Sherpa families in the event of a fatality or injury. The issue of Sherpa insurance has gained attention due to several tragic incidents on Mount Everest, highlighting the risks and sacrifices made by these skilled mountaineers.

The 2002 Tourism Act Amendment mandates life insurance for Sherpas

The Sherpa people are a group of mountain-dwelling people native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. They are renowned for their climbing skills, strength, and endurance at high altitudes, and play an invaluable role in mountaineering expeditions. The Sherpa's job is to set up camps, manage porters, and guide trekkers to safety. They are considered expert navigators, and their ability to endure freezing temperatures down to -50°C makes them well-suited for their work.

The work of a Sherpa is dangerous, and the mortality rate for Sherpas working in the mountains is high. The Himalayan Database shows that 174 Sherpas have died while working in the Nepalese mountains, with 15 of those deaths occurring on Mount Everest in the last 10 years. This figure does not include the many Sherpas who have been seriously injured by falling rocks, frostbite, and altitude sickness. As a result, many families have been left without financial support, or have had to take on the emotional and financial burden of caring for a disabled partner or family member injured in the mountains.

To address this issue, the 2002 Tourism Act Amendment was passed in Nepal, mandating that every in-country trekking agent must purchase rescue and life insurance for their Sherpas. Porters working above Base Camp have a death coverage of at least $4,600, while Sherpas working at lower altitudes are insured for $3,500. The collective rescue insurance coverage is a minimum of $4,000. Additionally, when a Sherpa dies on Mount Everest, there is a government-mandated insurance payout of $4,600 to their family if the death is due to work-related causes.

This amendment recognizes the risks and dangers faced by Sherpas in their work and provides some financial security for them and their families in the event of an accident or death. It is a step towards ensuring that Sherpas are properly compensated and protected while working in the treacherous conditions of the Nepalese mountains.

Sherpas' life insurance is underpaid

Sherpa guides are underpaid and overworked, with their pay being a fraction of what Western guides earn. They are paid several thousand dollars for a two-month climbing season, which involves multiple trips up and down Mount Everest. This equates to a lot of money in Nepal, but the pay does not reflect the high risk of death or injury that comes with the job. The more time spent on the mountain, the higher the risk of danger.

The job of a Sherpa is extremely dangerous. Working above base camp, Sherpas are 10 times more likely to die than commercial fishermen, which is the most dangerous non-military profession in the US. They are also three and a half times more likely to die than a combat soldier serving in the Iraq war. The mortality rate for Sherpas is 1.2%, a rate that is outrageous for a service industry.

Despite the risks, Sherpas continue to work due to the financial gains for their families and communities. In a country where the annual per capita income is $645, the salary of a Sherpa is hard to refuse. However, this puts them in a vulnerable position, and they are often under pressure from the government to continue working, as tourism brings in significant revenue.

The insurance payouts for Sherpas are also inadequate. In the event of a Sherpa's death, there is a mandated insurance payout of $4,600, while porters working above base camp have at least $4,000 in death coverage. Sherpas working at lower altitudes are insured for only $3,500. These amounts are minuscule compared to the revenue generated by the tourism industry, which Everest contributes $300 million to.

The underpayment and inadequate insurance of Sherpas is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. The risks and dangers they face are far too great for the compensation they receive. It is essential that their pay and insurance coverage are increased to reflect the value they bring to the tourism industry and the dangers they endure.

Sherpas' families are often left without financial support

Sherpa families are often left without financial support following the death or injury of a family member. The job of a Sherpa is extremely dangerous, with a mortality rate of 1.2%—a rate that is ten times higher than that of commercial fishermen, the most dangerous non-military profession in the United States.

In the past, the families of Sherpas who died on Mount Everest received a payout of $4,600 from the government, as mandated by the 2002 Tourism Act Amendment. However, this amount has been criticised as inadequate, and in some cases, families have not received the promised payments. Following the deadliest accident in Mount Everest's history in April 2014, which left 16 local Sherpa guides dead, there were demands for better compensation and higher death and injury benefit payouts for the families of Sherpas. As a result, the Nepalese government raised the life insurance payout for Sherpa guides by 50%, to 1.5 million rupees (approximately $15,200). While this amount is still less than what the Sherpas had called for, the government stated that it was the best they could do at the time and promised to work towards further increases in the future.

Even with insurance payouts, the loss of a Sherpa family member can have devastating financial consequences. The annual per capita income in Nepal is only $645, while a Sherpa can earn between $4,000 and $5,000 in just two months. This income is crucial for supporting their families, and it can be difficult for Sherpas to quit their dangerous jobs despite the risks. The families of injured Sherpas may also struggle financially, as they have to take on the emotional and financial responsibility of caring for a disabled partner or parent. For example, Ang Temba, a Sherpa who suffered a stroke while working on Mount Everest, was left paralysed and unable to work. His wife now takes care of him, and they were able to receive $5,500 from his employer's insurance after proving that his disability was work-related and irreparable.

The high number of Sherpa deaths and injuries on Mount Everest has brought attention to the need for better compensation and support for their families. While some improvements have been made, there is still a need for further action to ensure that Sherpa families are not left without financial support.

Sherpas are 10 times more likely to die than commercial fishermen

The Sherpa people of Nepal are famous for guiding mountaineers up some of the world's highest peaks, especially Mount Everest. While Sherpa guides are paid relatively well for their work, they and their families pay a price in death and injury. According to Grayson Schaffer, a senior editor and writer for Outside magazine, a Sherpa working above Everest's base camp is nearly 10 times more likely to die than a commercial fisherman, the most dangerous non-military occupation in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The dangers of being a Sherpa are well-documented. In 2014, an avalanche on Mount Everest killed 16 Sherpas and left the surviving Sherpas traumatised. This was the second-deadliest disaster in Everest's history, only exceeded by avalanches in the Khumbu Icefall area in 2015, caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Nepal. In total, 118 Sherpas have died on Mount Everest between 1921 and 2018, with an overall mortality rate of 1.2%. Avalanches cause 46.4% of Sherpa deaths in the Himalayan Mountains, compared to 28.8% for climbers who hire Sherpas. Other causes of death for Sherpas include falls (13.8%), exposure, crevasses, acute mountain sickness, and falling rocks and ice.

The high death rate among Sherpas is due in part to the constant danger they face in their work. Unlike climbers, who perform a personal risk assessment before a single climb, Sherpas are exposed to these dangers repeatedly, with some Sherpas going through the Khumbu Icefall around 30 times each season. The Khumbu Icefall, a waterfall of ice with continuous structural shifts, is one of the most dangerous parts of climbing Mount Everest. Sherpas have to walk on ladders over crevasses and underneath large serac formations that could fall at any moment.

In addition to the physical dangers, Sherpas also face financial risks. In a country where the annual per capita income is $645, the $4,000 to $5,000 salary a Sherpa can make in two months makes it difficult for them to quit, even in the face of danger. While the 2002 Tourism Act Amendment requires trekking agents to buy rescue and life insurance for their Sherpas, the families of those who die are often left without financial support. When a Sherpa dies on Mount Everest, there is a government-mandated insurance payout of $4,600, but this is often not enough to cover the needs of the family.

Despite the risks and challenges, the Sherpa community is truly called the "army of mountains", playing an integral part in Nepal's tourism industry. Their skills, strength, and endurance at high altitudes make them invaluable to mountaineering expeditions. They are renowned in the international climbing community for their hardiness, expertise, and experience, with some speculating that their climbing abilities are the result of genetic adaptations to living in high altitudes.

Sherpas are 3.5 times more likely to die than combat soldiers

The job of a Sherpa is statistically more dangerous than America's riskiest professions. Sherpas who work above base camp are 10 times more likely to die than commercial fishermen, which the Center for Disease Control ranks as the most dangerous non-military profession in the US. They are also 3.5 times more likely to die than a combat soldier serving during the first four years of the Iraq War.

The mortality rate for Sherpas working on Mount Everest between 2004 and 2014 was 4,053 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers. This is significantly higher than the mortality rate for US soldiers during the height of the Iraq War (2003-2007), which was 335 deaths per 100,000.

The dangerous nature of the Sherpa job is due to the frequent exposure to high altitudes, freezing temperatures, and hazardous conditions such as icefalls and avalanches. Sherpas often have to make multiple trips through these treacherous areas during a single climbing season, increasing their risk of encountering a deadly accident.

While the exact number of Sherpa deaths is unclear, it is estimated that at least 174 Sherpas have died while working in the Nepalese mountains, with 15 of those deaths occurring on Mount Everest in the last 10 years. Additionally, many more Sherpas have been seriously injured due to falling rocks, frostbite, and altitude sickness.

The high-risk nature of the Sherpa profession has left many families in Nepal without financial support or with the burden of caring for a disabled partner or parent injured in the mountains. Despite the dangers and relatively low pay compared to the risk involved, many Sherpas continue to work in this field due to the lack of alternative income opportunities in the country.

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