The following is an accident report that was printed
in the newsletter of the British equivalent of the
Workers' Compensation Board.
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
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 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 bricks.
You will note in block #11 of the accident report
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 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 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, 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 down to me. This explains the two broken
legs.
This explains why I cited "poor planning" as the
cause of the accident.
------------------
in the newsletter of the British equivalent of the
Workers' Compensation Board.
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
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 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 bricks.
You will note in block #11 of the accident report
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 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 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, 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 down to me. This explains the two broken
legs.
This explains why I cited "poor planning" as the
cause of the accident.
------------------
