ONE of Irvine’s biggest employers have been fined £55,000 - after admitting responsibility for a chemical fire.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) were slapped with the hefty fine following the incident at their plant in Shewalton Road on July 27, 2013.

Two employees suffered burns as a result of the blaze in the 

clavulanate plant.

They were taken to Crosshouse Hospital for treatment to their “minor” injuries and were later released.

GSK admitted failing to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to the health and safety of its employees while they were at work.

The company additionally failed to identify suitable and sufficient control measures to reduce - as far as reasonably practicable - the risks involved in adding potassium clavulanate to an understrength mixture of potassium clavulanate and avicel.

Back in February, GSK’s refurbished clavulanate plant was unveiled by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who also announced £1.5million in new funding for the Irvine site as well as the possibility of creating 55 new jobs.

GSK currently employs roughly 400 people at the Irvine site.

The company was fined £55,000 after representatives from GSK admitted the charges.

A spokesperson from GSK said: “We take safety, particularly employee safety very seriously and acknowledged in court the importance of thorough risk assessment across all parts of the business. 

“Since the incident in 2013, we have made a number of improvements at the site and are confident we have a robust safety system and culture at Irvine.”