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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 that 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 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 175 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 equal, impressive speed. This explained
the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collar bone, 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 beginning to
experience a great deal of pain.
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 50 lbs. I refer
you again to my weight.
As you can 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
several 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 onto the
pile of bricks and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, as I l ay 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.
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