Barrie Moodswing
05-16-2003, 07:25 AM
This is a bricklayer's accident actual (verbatim) report, which
was printed in the newsletter of the Australian equivalent of
the Workers' Compensation board. This is a true story. Had this
bloke died, he'd have received a Darwin Award without question...
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 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 begin its journey back
down onto me. This explains the two broken legs.
I hope this answers your inquiry."
graemlins/lol.gif
was printed in the newsletter of the Australian equivalent of
the Workers' Compensation board. This is a true story. Had this
bloke died, he'd have received a Darwin Award without question...
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 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 begin its journey back
down onto me. This explains the two broken legs.
I hope this answers your inquiry."
graemlins/lol.gif