| The
old ones are the best ......
This is a bricklayer's accident
report, which was printed in the Newsletter
of the New Zealand equivalent of the Workers'
Compensation Board.
This
is a true story.
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-storey
building. When I completed my work, I found
I had some bricks left over, which, when weighed
later were found to be slightly in excess
of 500lbs. 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
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 report form.
Slowed only
slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not
stopping until the I reached the top. 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, that barrel weighed
approximately 50lbs.
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,
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
query.
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