A Brick Layer, working alone on a building, got injured and the insurance company asked for a more detailed report. The following is his letter:
Dear Sirs:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In Block 3 of the accident report I put, “Trying to do the job alone,” as the cause of my recent accident. In your letter you said I should explain more fully, and I trust the following details will be sufficient.
I am a brick layer by trade, and 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 discovered I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Well, rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley that was fortunately attached to the side of the building at the 6th 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 back down to the ground and untied the rope while holding the rope tightly to assure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick.
You will note in Block 2 of the accident form that I stated I weigh 135 pounds. 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 rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the 3rd floor, I met the barrel coming down, and this explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone.
Slowed down only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until my right hand was 3 knuckles deep in the aforementioned pulley. Fortunately, I regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in Block 2.
As you might imagine, I began a rather rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the 3rd floor, I met the barrel coming back up, and this accounts for my 2 fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs and lower body. This encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks. Fortunately, only 3 of my vertebrate were cracked.
I’m sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to stand up, watching the empty barrel 6 stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope, so it came down and broke both of my legs.
I hope that I have furnished the information that you require as to how the accident occurred.
—Author Unknown
