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Mon Sep 28, 09 02:44 AM
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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 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.
> 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 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 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
inquiry.
> Frank
Link:
http://blog.bitcomet.com/davejackson/post_126877/
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