This is a
bricklayer's accident report that was printed in the newsletter of the
English equivalent of the Workers' Compensation Board. So here, thanks
to John Sedgwick, is this Bricklayer's report.
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 asked for a more complete 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
weigh 240 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 240 lbs of bricks. You will
note on the accident reporting 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, 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, 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 and watching the empty barrel six stories above
me, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the
rope. |
