New details emerge surrounding the tragic passing of Outback Opal Hunters star
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It was a sad and sudden turn of events; one that no one ever wanted to happen.
When news broke out that Ronald Selig, a much-loved cast member of the Australian reality television show, Outback Opal Hunters, suddenly passed away in November last year, fans of the show were devastated.
Now, new information regarding Ron’s passing has emerged.
Ron Selig, who was 66 years old at the time of his passing, worked as an opal miner in Opalton near Winton.
Mr Selig was a part of the Boulder Opal Boys Downunder group and was the loader driver, head chef, and the ‘Eagle-Eyed Opal Checker’.
According to reports, Ron was fatally injured after falling from the roof of a workshop on November 26, 2022.
At the time of his passing, fans of the reality show poured messages of love on social media.
‘Ron was a much-loved member of the Outback Opal Hunters Family. A great character and amazing Opal Hunter,’ the show’s official Facebook post read.
‘We will always fondly remember Ron.’
Mel, Mr Selig’s daughter, used her father’s social media account to confirm his passing and thanked his supporters for their kind words.
‘Our family has amazing gratitude for the fact that my dad/Ron was a part of Outback Opal Hunters. We will also continue to enjoy the episodes he was on, as I’m sure you all will too,’ she said.
In an alert published on January 19, 2023, Resources Safety and Health Queensland’s Mineral Mines and Quarries Inspectorate confirmed an opal mine worker ‘suffered fatal injuries when he fell from the roof of a workshop’.
Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium and one of the top five producers of gold, iron ore, lead, zinc, and nickel. It also has the world’s largest uranium and fourth-largest black coal resources. But as the demand for mineral production remains high, this industry has also claimed the lives of 13 workers within a span of five years.
Mining is one of the world’s most dangerous occupations, and workplace accidents are, unfortunately, a frequent occurrence in the industry. The fatalities are mainly caused by respirable dust, blasting, falls from heights, and machinery-related incidents.
The alert further read: ‘It is understood that the worker accessed the roof of the workshop to make repairs following damage caused by a severe weather event when a structural member failed, causing the worker to fall approximately 5.8 metres to [the] ground.’
The alert also explained the key issues in the incident, which included ‘working at height without appropriate fall restraint/personal protective equipment (PPE)’, and that there was ‘damage to the structural integrity of the workshop’.
As a result, a safety investigation has been launched and several recommendations were made. These included that all site senior executives should ensure people – especially those working from great heights – are appropriately trained and assessed as competent to perform their tasks safely.
Another recommendation was to ‘ensure appropriate facilities are provided to minimise the risk of people falling from heights’, and to ‘ensure repairs or modifications to fixed plant structures are performed in accordance with the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) design and instructions’. This is so workers can be assured that their equipment remains fit for its intended use.
Emergency services were also brought up in the recommendations list. It’s suggested that they receive detailed instructions on both the location and travel routes in remote mining operations for easier and more efficient access.
We extend our deepest condolences to Ron Selig’s family during this difficult time. Are you a fan of the show? Share your insights with us in the comments.
When news broke out that Ronald Selig, a much-loved cast member of the Australian reality television show, Outback Opal Hunters, suddenly passed away in November last year, fans of the show were devastated.
Now, new information regarding Ron’s passing has emerged.
Ron Selig, who was 66 years old at the time of his passing, worked as an opal miner in Opalton near Winton.
Mr Selig was a part of the Boulder Opal Boys Downunder group and was the loader driver, head chef, and the ‘Eagle-Eyed Opal Checker’.
Opal is a beautiful and expensive gemstone. Credit: Shutterstock
According to reports, Ron was fatally injured after falling from the roof of a workshop on November 26, 2022.
At the time of his passing, fans of the reality show poured messages of love on social media.
‘Ron was a much-loved member of the Outback Opal Hunters Family. A great character and amazing Opal Hunter,’ the show’s official Facebook post read.
‘We will always fondly remember Ron.’
Mel, Mr Selig’s daughter, used her father’s social media account to confirm his passing and thanked his supporters for their kind words.
‘Our family has amazing gratitude for the fact that my dad/Ron was a part of Outback Opal Hunters. We will also continue to enjoy the episodes he was on, as I’m sure you all will too,’ she said.
Ron was a popular fixture on the show. Credit: Outback Opal Hunters/Facebook
In an alert published on January 19, 2023, Resources Safety and Health Queensland’s Mineral Mines and Quarries Inspectorate confirmed an opal mine worker ‘suffered fatal injuries when he fell from the roof of a workshop’.
Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium and one of the top five producers of gold, iron ore, lead, zinc, and nickel. It also has the world’s largest uranium and fourth-largest black coal resources. But as the demand for mineral production remains high, this industry has also claimed the lives of 13 workers within a span of five years.
Mining is one of the world’s most dangerous occupations, and workplace accidents are, unfortunately, a frequent occurrence in the industry. The fatalities are mainly caused by respirable dust, blasting, falls from heights, and machinery-related incidents.
The alert further read: ‘It is understood that the worker accessed the roof of the workshop to make repairs following damage caused by a severe weather event when a structural member failed, causing the worker to fall approximately 5.8 metres to [the] ground.’
The alert also explained the key issues in the incident, which included ‘working at height without appropriate fall restraint/personal protective equipment (PPE)’, and that there was ‘damage to the structural integrity of the workshop’.
As a result, a safety investigation has been launched and several recommendations were made. These included that all site senior executives should ensure people – especially those working from great heights – are appropriately trained and assessed as competent to perform their tasks safely.
Another recommendation was to ‘ensure appropriate facilities are provided to minimise the risk of people falling from heights’, and to ‘ensure repairs or modifications to fixed plant structures are performed in accordance with the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) design and instructions’. This is so workers can be assured that their equipment remains fit for its intended use.
Emergency services were also brought up in the recommendations list. It’s suggested that they receive detailed instructions on both the location and travel routes in remote mining operations for easier and more efficient access.
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