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 explains 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 my beginning to experience 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 legs 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, that as I
lay there on the pile of bricks, in pain and unable to
move, that I once 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. I hope this answers
your inquiry.