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Story No. 1: A bricklayer's accident 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 we found to weigh 240 pounds. 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 pounds of bricks. You will note on the accident reporting form
that my weight is 135 pounds.
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 two 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 pounds.
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 watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my composure and
presence of mind and let go of the rope. I lay there watching the empty barrel begin its
journey back onto me.
Read other stories:
>
Story No. 1: A bricklayer's Accident Report
> Story No. 2: The
'New Age' Love Letter
> Story No. 3: A Rhose,
by any Other Name
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