Bricklayers Letter



Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to your request for additional information.
In block number three of the accident reporting form, I put "poor planning"
as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I needed to
explain things better, I trust the following statement will suffice.

I am a bricklayer by trade. On the morning of June 10th, I was working
alone on the roof of a new six story building. When I completed my work, I
discovered that I had about 500 lbs. of bricks left over. Rather than carry
the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a
pulley which fortunately was attached to the side of the building at the
sixth floor.

Securing the rope at the ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the
barrel over, and loaded the 500 lbs. of bricks in it. Then I went back to
the ground, and untied the rope. I held it tightly to insure a slow descent
of all 500 lbs. You will note in block number eleven of the report form
that I weigh 135 lbs.

Due to the surprise of 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 up the side of the building at a rather rapid rate.

In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This
explains the fractured skull and broken collarbone.

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 onto the rope, as not to fall despite the pain.

At approximately the same time, the barrel of bricks hit the ground,
and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the bricks, the barrel now
weighed about 50 lbs.

I refer again to block eleven, my weight is 135 lbs. As you may
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 3 fractured ankles, and the numerous lacerations on my
legs.

The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen the impact
onto the pile of bricks on the ground, and to my surprise, only 3 vertebrae
were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however that as I lay there on the bricks, unable
to move, and looking at the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost
my presence of mind...

I let go of the rope.

Yours Truly,

Brick Layer