mbryan
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> This is a bricklayer's accident
> report, which was printed in the newsletter of the Australian
> equivalent of the Workers' Compensation Board.
>
> This is a true story. Had this guy died, he'd have received a Darwin
> Award for sure.......
> 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 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 onto 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 135lbs. 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 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 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 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
> and 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 inquiry.
>
> report, which was printed in the newsletter of the Australian
> equivalent of the Workers' Compensation Board.
>
> This is a true story. Had this guy died, he'd have received a Darwin
> Award for sure.......
> 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 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 onto 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 135lbs. 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 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 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 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
> and 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 inquiry.
>