ASSESSMENT OF FIRE SAFETY PREPAREDNESS AT JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Abstract

Recently, Kenyans have witnessed an increase in incidents of fire where fire has gutting down homes, buildings and factories, with loss of lives and property. Lack of disaster preparedness has remained one of Kenya’s enduring development challenges for decades. There is lack of recognition of the interrelationship between disaster preparedness, unsustainable production and consumption patterns. Most of the fire disaster response initiatives in Kenya tend to be ad hoc, uncoordinated and short-term measures, mainly in the form of emergency relief services to the worst affected areas. Fire outbreaks are not only a health risk, but they also adversely affect the social, economic and environmental conditions of an organization. The purpose of this study was to assess fire safety preparedness measures in place at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The study employed descriptive research design targeting 340 respondents using proportional random sampling technique. A questionnaire was used in collecting data. Based on the results of the study, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has inadequate preventive and preparedness measures in place to minimize the potential effects of any fire disaster occurrence. It lacks mechanism to integrate the safety standards and practices of the different stakeholders in and around the airport. The study recommends an integrated fire disaster management system involving all organizations operating at the airport and a provision for more and bigger emergency exits and a public address system that can be relied upon in case of a fire disaster.