Application and Influence of Fire Risk Reduction Rules on Fire Safety at Petroleum Dispensing Stations in Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Fire safety is an essential aspect in each workplace, its efforts are geared to preservation of life and protection of property. Petroleum dispensing stations handle highly flammable and combustible substances that ignite at any given time at a conducive condition. The government of Kenya has instituted various laws and legislation to alleviate the fire safety status of such workplaces which should be adhered to. This thesis presents a qualitative and descriptive study on assessment of the application and influence of Fire Risk Reduction Rules (FRRR) on the status of fire safety in petroleum dispensing stations in Kisumu County. Questionnaires, interviews, and observation methods were used in this study to collect the data. Forty-seven (47) petroleum dispensing stations (PDS) were sampled of which sixteen (16) were independent PDS (IPDS) and the other thirty-one (31) being the branded PDS (BPDS). One hundred and seventy-six respondents were interviewed. The study found out that 83% of the respondents were aware of the safe storage of highly flammable substances;16.8% of the PDS carried out audits. Measurement of presence explosive vapors at the PDS’s using an explosimeter indicated an average of 3.0% and 2.4% at day and night respectively at the fueling pump site and fuel offloading storage site. 425 near misses and unsafe acts were reported collectively at the PDS’s. The study concluded that none of the PDS had fully implemented the FRRR, there wasn’t guarantee on status of fire safety at the PDS’s. However, BPDS had a better performance in awareness, implementation of FRRR and status of fire safety. This study recommends; regular Audits, workplace inspections and awareness creation on fire risk reduction rules should be done by the occupier and enforcing authorities.