Small scale mining isn't all fun & games. There are some very real risks & responsibilities involved:
"The NSW Resources Regulator has welcomed the $70,000 fine and conviction of Mr Tony Glenn Cummings for an incident that resulted in the death of a worker at Mineral Claim 44507 in the Mulga Rush Opal Fields, near Lightning Ridge."
"Mr Cummings was the owner of the hoist installed at the mine. The Court found Mr Cummings had a duty to ensure, in so far as reasonably practicable, the hoist was without risk to the health and safety of any person and his capacity to influence and control the hoist imposed a duty on him to take the steps to modify the hoist. The failure to modify the hoist was a cause of Mr Siegal being exposed to a risk of death or serious injury."
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...tion-and-sentence-in-mine-fatality-case-1.pdf
"The NSW Resources Regulator has welcomed the $70,000 fine and conviction of Mr Tony Glenn Cummings for an incident that resulted in the death of a worker at Mineral Claim 44507 in the Mulga Rush Opal Fields, near Lightning Ridge."
"Mr Cummings was the owner of the hoist installed at the mine. The Court found Mr Cummings had a duty to ensure, in so far as reasonably practicable, the hoist was without risk to the health and safety of any person and his capacity to influence and control the hoist imposed a duty on him to take the steps to modify the hoist. The failure to modify the hoist was a cause of Mr Siegal being exposed to a risk of death or serious injury."
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...tion-and-sentence-in-mine-fatality-case-1.pdf