Victoria’s WorkSafe is taking a scrap recycling business to court after a worker was seriously injured in an explosion.

The victim, 35, was decommissioning an air-conditioning unit at the Dandenong South site when gas escaped and ignited, causing an blast that resulted in serious burns to his hands, legs and face.

Eco Scrap faces one charge under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to provide and maintain a working environment that was safe and without risks to health.

WorkSafe also alleges Eco Scrap breached section 21(2)(a) of the act by failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work, documented in a standard operating procedure, to ensure any refrigerant was removed from air-conditioning units before they were scrapped.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 19.