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 said in your letter that I should
explain more fully and I trust that 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 discovered that I had about 500 pounds of bricks left
over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower
them in a barrel by using a pulley which, fortunately, 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 back
to the ground and untied the rope holding it tightly to ensure a
slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in Block
#11 of 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 rather rapid rate up the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel which was now
proceeding in a downward direction at an equally impressive rate
of speed. This explains the fractured skull, minor abrasions and
broken collarbone, as listed in Section III 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 despite 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 now weighed approximately
50 pounds.
I refer you again to my weight in Block #11. 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 the
severe lacerations of my legs and lower body.
Here my luck began to change slightly. The encounter with the barrel
seemed to slow it up 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, that as I lay there on the pile of
bricks in pain, unable to move and watching the empty barrel six
stores above me, I again lost my composure and presence of mind
and let go of the rope.
Sincerely,
