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.
