Improvisation at Workplace and Accident Causation - An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This paper presents an application of functional resonance analysis method for an exploratory study of accidents at workplace where some type of improvisation took place. Improvisation, along with creativity, can be seen as a basis for advancements in virtually all knowledge areas. The necessity to overcome a barrier, a difficulty, a discomfort, or any constraint is a driving force for mankind to improvise - it is a natural act, a product of intelligence under unplanned circumstances and a way to cope with resource constraints. Despite the improvements improvisation can bring to the society, it can also result in unwanted outputs, mainly when it is performed at the workplace, in the presence of hazardous situations and unknown situations. The main problem with improvisation occur when its consequences are ignored and cannot be predictable, once it can lead to devastating events. So, why firms improvise? The basic response is to have the work done in the face of a demand for lacking resources. This research is essentially a exploratory study and was conducted to provide a better understanding of accidents resulting from improvisation at work. Three accident reports were selected from open databases in Brazil and are presented to provide an overview of the role of improvisation at work on accident causation. In order to study the accidents resulting from improvisation, this study applied the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM). All cases had in common the lack of hazards recognition, lack of planning, lack of supervision, and the pressure for productivity firms imposed to workers.