Strategic human resource factors and implementation of safety management measures in the aviation industry in Kenya

Abstract

In recent years, the global airline industry experienced significant growth, emerging as one of the most safety-critical sectors worldwide. Despite this growth, the industry faced challenges such as flight cancellations and delays, often attributed to inadequate safety management systems. These systems are crucial for identifying and mitigating safety risks before they escalate into accidents. This study focused on the aviation industry in Kenya, specifically the Kenya Airports Authority, aiming to examine the impact of strategic human resource factors on the implementation of safety management measures. The study objectives included assessing the effects of human competencies, situational awareness, human communication, and psychophysical parameters on safety management implementation in Kenya's aviation sector. Anchored in human capital and dynamic capability theories, the study employed an explanatory research design. The target population comprised senior management and airport staff involved in operations, security, and safety. The study applied simple random sampling by taking 15% of the target population from each stratum as sample population giving a sample size of 148 respondents. Stratified random sampling was used to select the study sample, and data was collected through a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Ethical considerations were paramount to ensure the ethical treatment of all participants. The findings revealed that strategic human resource factors significantly influenced the implementation of safety management measures in the aviation industry in Kenya. Specifically, human competencies, situational awareness, human communication, and psychophysical parameters were found to play crucial roles in enhancing safety management practices. These findings underscore the importance of focusing on human resource competencies to provide a systematic approach to managing safety management systems in the aviation industry.