Original Article · English
Assessment of Suppression Measures in Managing Technological Multi-hazards at International Airports in Kenya.
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
01Abstract
This study assessed suppression measures for managing technological multi-hazards at international airports in Kenya. A descriptive research design was adopted, involving a sample of 285 airport workers selected through stratified random sampling, comprising 226 respondents from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and 59 from Moi International Airport (MIA). Primary data were collected using questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), observation checklists, and structured interview protocols. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means, frequencies, and percentages, and inferential statistics using the Chi-square test, while qualitative data were analyzed descriptively. The findings on structural suppression measures indicated no statistically significant association between variations in airport facilities and the presence of suppression measures. Specifically, the Chi-square results were χ²(2) = 2.81, p = .246 for critical airport facilities and fire suppression systems; χ²(2) = 0.49, p = .783 for terminal buildings and fire sprinkler systems; and χ²(2) = 0.83, p = .659 for ground refuelling operations and the use of portable foam extinguishers. Regarding non-structural suppression measures, more than 70% of respondents acknowledged the existence of policies governing fire suppression systems and fire suppression agents at the airports. The study recommends transitioning from portable fluorinated firefighting foams to environmentally sustainable alternatives, implementing effective measures for managing legacy fluorinated foam stocks, improving sprinkler coverage in critical areas, and strengthening environmental monitoring, auditing, and compliance mechanisms to enhance fire safety and environmental sustainability at international airports in Kenya.
02Author contributions
03References
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