Salini charged over Airport Link explosion

Worksafe has launched legal action against construction contractor Salini Australia after an explosion at the Forrestfield Airport Link project left an employee with a traumatic brain injury and facial fractures.

Salini Australia, which is a subsidiary of global construction contractor Salini Impregilo, was the main contractor on the state government’s $1.86 billion Airport Link project.

On July 7 2018, three employees were connecting steel pipes in an underground tunnel near the airport station platform when there was an explosion.

A six-inch hose containing high pressure compressed air detached from a steel pipe, causing an unrestrained whiplash motion.

One worker was struck in the face by the hose, knocking him unconscious and causing a traumatic brain injury, severe facial fractures, lacerations, a fractured right hand and an eye injury.

After nine hours of surgery, the worker was placed in an induced coma for 11 days. 

The worker has since undergone further facial surgeries, dental surgeries, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

Salini Australia has been charged with failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment and causing serious harm to an employee.

The company is expected to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on July 23.

The charges are the second to be laid in relation to the company’s work on the Airport Link project.

Salini was fined $150,000 late last year after pleading guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace.

The charges were laid after a worker sustained severe burns to 38 per cent of his body after receiving a major electrical shock when a camera pole made contact with overhead power lines in 2017.