Influence of Compliance with Fire Safety Standards and Regulations in Fire Safety Management Performance at International Airports in Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: Fire outbreak is a 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 to be considered from the design, construction phases of the building and through 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 whether compliance with fire safety standards and regulations affected implementation of fire safety management at International airports in Kenya.

Materials and Methods: Stratified and simple random sampling methods was employed to determine employees and management to be included in the study. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey, involving 270 employees and 120 Management respectively at International airports in Kenya. Questionnaires and observation were used to collect data from respondents. The data collected was coded, tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 20 and presented in a descriptive statistics inform of arithmetic means, standard deviation and frequencies while inferential statistics was carried out using t-test and results presented using tables and charts. Findings: Regression coefficients showed strong negative relationship between fire safety compliance and obstacle to implementation of fire safety management. The prediction factor was -0.67, p<0.05; showing that a unit increase in fire safety compliance predicted a decrease of 0.67 units of hindrance in fire safety management implementation. The null hypothesis, failed in favour of the alternative hypothesis.

Findings: The study concluded that non-compliance with fire safety standards had impact on implementation of fire safety management in the study areas and recommends installation, inspection and maintenance to ensure availability, serviceability and reliability and management to exercise their obligations geared towards improving fire safety within International Airports in Kenya.

Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study is supported by utilitarian theory which emphasizes on fire safety in an occupancy where the employer is mandated to comply with fire safety regulations and standards through provision of serviceable and reliable fire protection system (Ibrahim et al., 2020) and training occupants on operations of fire protection and evacuation system and encouraging everyone in the workplace to practice safety culture (Alao et al., 2021). However, fire safety regulations and standards do not provide guidelines regarding human behavior and conduct in fire emergency (Endang &Dadan, 2024). This has necessitated establishment of evacuation procedures, training occupants and testing the procedure through conducting fire safety drills in the workplace to evaluate its effectiveness and adequacy.