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 more than 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 135 lbs.
Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, that 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 collarbone, as listed in section 3 of the accident report
form. Slowed down slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until
the fingers on my right had 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 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, 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 beginning its journey back down onto me. This explains the two broken
legs.