Fairhurst were commissioned by GSK to provide specialist ground engineering advice to support planned crane lifting operations at the GSK pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Irvine, confirming the suitability of proposed crane operating areas across the live industrial site.
The commission involved a Coal Mining Risk Assessment, undertaken in collaboration with mining specialists JWH Ross, due to the site’s history and its location within an area of historic coal mining. This was supported by a detailed review of historical ground investigation data to understand potential ground stability risks associated with the ground conditions and past mining activity. These studies informed a targeted intrusive ground investigation programme to assess ground conditions and the load bearing capacity of existing site surfaces within the proposed crane lifting zones.
The assessment enabled the client to verify that the designated areas were suitable for crane operations while protecting existing infrastructure and buried services within the operational facility. The project highlights Fairhurst’s ability to deliver practical, risk-based engineering solutions that support safe lifting operations and construction activities within complex, safety-critical industrial environments.
Photography of Crane Lift: © Kirby Group
