THE
BRICKLAYER
This is a bricklayer's
accident report that was printed in the newsletter of
the English equivalent of the Workers' Compensation
Board.
So here is this Bricklayer's
report:
Dear Sir:
I am writing in response to
your request for additional information in Block #3
of the accident reporting 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 I had some bricks left
over which when weighed later were found to weigh 240
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 at 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 insure a slow
descent of the 240 lbs of bricks. You will note on
the accident reporting form that my weight is 135
lbs.
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 equally impressive speed. This
explains the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the
broken collarbone, as listed in Section 3 of the
accident reporting 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 which I mentioned in Paragraph 2 of this
correspondence. Fortunately by this time I had
regained my presence of mind and was able to hold
tightly to the rope, in spite of the excruciating
pain I was now beginning to experience.
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, the barrel weighed
approximately 50 lbs. I refer you again to my weight.
As you might 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 severe 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 and watching the empty barrel
six stories above me, I again lost my composure and
presence of mind and let go of the rope.
Last updated: 08/09/98
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