Factors affecting environmental best practice compliance among retail fuel service stations in Thika east sub county Kenya

Abstract

vironmental best practice in the oil industry remains a top p riority in Kenya. Protecting the environment in the oil industry requires advanced technology, research; and new ways of operating the fuel stations. The safety of self, the public, and facilities are key in any retail fu el service station and the workforc e/management strives to have zero fatal incidences and accidents. The research sought to determine the factors affecting environmental best practice compliance among retail fuel service stations within Thika East Sub - County. To achieve this objective, th e study was guided by the following specific research objectives ; the effect of factors especially the influence of capital adequacy, influence of skills competence and technological development on environmental best practice compliance status. Primary data used questionnaires, field observations of the facilities and interviews were done at times by telephone when the respondents needed clarifications. Secondary data was acquired through reviews of several Acts to help assess the level of compliance in rela tion to legislation, data from journals, project reports, maps, library books and the internet were used to generate data for the study. The study conducted a census of the 19 retail fuel service stations within the Thika East Sub - County. The study questio nnaires were delivered to the retail fuel service stations by hand to the identified respondents. Data was coded using SPSS. The researcher employed both quantitative and qualitative techniques of analyzing the data including content analysis and descripti ve statistics . The data was analyzed and used to draw inferences and conclusions for this study. The key findings of this research indicate that capital is very essential of which 49% of firms have affirmed to this and stated that the financial resources w ere available to the management of the fuel stations to initiate the required EBP compliance. The findings further indicated that the firms had employed skilled competent employee to manage the oil product. On technology the study found out that 79% of res pondents stated that the firms enhance EBP positively by use of recommended piping systems, automated dispensers and ATG system. This prevents and minimizes fuel leakages and hence ground, air and water pollution t is recommended for best practice tha t fuel service stations need to allocate and avail more finances to invest in Environmental Best Practice (EBP). The leadership of the oil marketing companies should lead from the front in giving environmental activities top priority instead of waiting for the relevant compliance agencies to enforce E.B.P. and to avoid short cuts rushing to comply. There is also need to make it an environmental habit to keep monitoring and evaluating all their facilities. The management should also employ qualified staff to enhance what the quality marshals or supervisors do. The staff should be assigned environmental responsibility and authority within their areas of control and must be competent to perform duties effectively. The study also recommends that technological de velopment to be added to workforce capacity. Further research should be done on different mechanisms that can be employed to manage hazardous waste within Thika East sub - county because of its rapidly expanding and increased level of industrialization. The research should also show the strengths of the firms’ cooperate social responsibility