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leadarrows

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Posts posted by leadarrows

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Dear Sir:

    I am writing in response to your request for additional information in

    Block 3 of the accident report form. I put "poor planning" as the cause of

    my accident. You asked for a fuller explanation and I trust the following

    details will be sufficient. I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the

    accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six story building.

    When I completed my work, I found that I had some bricks left over which,

    when weighed later were found to be slightly in excess of 500 lbs. Rather

    than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by

    using a pulley, which was attached to the side of the building on the

    sixth floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof,

    swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went down and

    untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the

    bricks.

    You will note in Block 11 of the accident report form that I weigh

    135lbs.

    Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my

    presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I

    proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of

    the third floor, I met the barrel which was now proceeding downward at an

    equal, impressive speed. This explained the fractured skull, minor

    abrasions and the broken collar bone, as listed in section 3 of the

    accident report form. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent,

    not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep

    into the pulley. Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence of

    mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of beginning to

    experience a great deal of pain. At approximately the same time, however,

    the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.

    Now devoid of the weight of the bricks, that barrel weighed approximately

    50 lbs. I refer you again to my weight. As you can imagine, I began a

    rapid descent, down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third

    floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured

    ankles, broken tooth and several lacerations of my leg and lower body.

    Here my luck began to change slightly.

    The encounter with the barrel seemed to slow me enough to lessen my

    injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks and fortunately only three

    vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, as I lay there on

    the pile of bricks, in pain, unable to move, I again lost my composure and

    presence of mind and let go of the rope and I lay there watching the empty

    barrel begin its journey back down onto me. This explains the two broken

    legs.

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