An Evaluation of Fire Safety Preparedness in Saudi Arabian Hospitals: A Case Study of Riyadh City Public Hospitals

Abstract

Modern hospitals are complex environments where fire safety is not just a technical challenge but a critical matter of protecting human lives and property. This study evaluates fire safety preparedness in five tertiary public hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, employing a mixed-methods approach to examine the multidimensional nature of institutional safety. Data were collected from 108 participants across various professional roles using a structured questionnaire covering five key domains: infrastructure, training, organizational culture, system functionality, and human factors. The research utilized advanced statistical techniques, including descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, linear regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze quantitative data, complemented by thematic analysis of qualitative responses. The findings reveal that fire safety preparedness is a complex, interconnected ecosystem rather than a linear construct. Organizational culture emerged as the strongest predictor of overall readiness, followed by system effectiveness, infrastructure, and training. The SEM analysis demonstrated significant pathways between variables, with system effectiveness directly influencing readiness and training, significantly impacting both culture and human factors. Significant differences in preparedness were observed across hospitals, demonstrating the impacts of awareness, training, the contribution of the human factor, organisational culture, and leadership. However, no significant differences were found across professional roles, suggesting consistent perceptions of fire safety across different staff categories. The study contributes to the understanding of institutional health and safety management by highlighting the multidimensional, interconnected nature of fire safety preparedness. Also, it provides practical recommendations for enhancing safety protocols in Saudi Arabian hospitals. These findings have important implications for hospital administrators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals seeking to improve fire safety in complex healthcare environments. Keywords: Fire safety, Saudi Hospitals, System Effectiveness, Infrastructure, Fire Safety Training, Structural Equation Modelling, Mixed-Method Analysis.