Factors Affecting Fire Safety Management Performance at International Airports in Kenya

Abstract

Fire outbreaks are global hazard with a potential to cause injuries, loss of life and damage to properties. To mitigate against these fires, fire safety of the building should be considered during the design and construction phases of a building, supported by effective implementation of fire safety management which plays an important role in enhancing safety of buildings against unforeseen fires in complex occupancies like airports. This study aimed to assess fire safety awareness among management and employees, investigate compliance with relevant sections of Building Operations and Works of Engineering Construction, Fire Risk Reduction Rules and International Civil Aviation Organization Standards and Recommended Practices and determine adequacy of fire protection systems at international airports in Kenya. Stratified and simple random sampling methods were adopted to select employees and management at international airports in Kenya to be included in the study. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted and from a population of 1900, a sample of 310 and 169 employees and management respectively were selected from eight Kenya’s international airports namely Jomo Kenyatta, Moi, Kisumu, Wilson, Malindi, Eldoret, Wajir and Lokichoggio airports. Data was collected through observation and structured questionnaires, then coded, tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics including arithmetic means, standard deviation and frequencies were used, alongside inferential statistics was carried out using t-test and results presented in tables and charts. Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression was used to test linear and statistical relationships between independent variables and dependent variable respectively. Regression coefficients showed strong positive relationships between each of the independent variables and Performance of fire safety management. T-test was used to test research null hypothesis for the regression coefficients for each variable. The prediction factors were 0.69, p<0.05 for Employees’ fire safety awareness; 0.30, p<0.05 for Management’s fire safety awareness; and 0.67, p<0.05 for compliance with relevant sections of BOWEC, FRRR and ICAO SARPS. The null hypothesis was rejected in the t-test. The study concluded that inadequate fire safety awareness among Management and employees, non-compliance with fire safety standards and inadequacy of fire protection systems had negative impact on performance of fire safety management at International Airports in Kenya and recommended that both Management and employees undergo basic fire safety training to empower them in managing fire safety hazards, and that fire protection systems be adequately provided, maintained and tested to ensure their serviceability and reliability.