I am writing in response to your request for additional
information. In block number 3 of the accident reporting form, I
put "trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident. You
said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust
that 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 discovered that I had about 500 pounds of
brick 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 ground level, I went up to the roof, swung
the barrel out and loaded the brick into it. Then I went back to
the ground and untied the rope, holding it tight to insure a slow
descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note, in block number
11 of the accident reporting form, that I weigh 135 pounds.
Due to my 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 at a rather rapid rate up the side of the
building.
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 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 broke out of the barrel. Devoid of the
weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately fifty
pounds.
I refer you again to my weight in the accident reporting form,
block number 11.
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 accounted for the two fractured ankles and the
lacerations on my legs and lower body.
The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my
injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and fortunately, only
three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that
as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to stand, and watching
the empty barrel six stories above me...I again lost my presence of
mind...and let go of the rope!