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Accident Report
This is an accident report, which was printed in the newsletter of The
British equivalent of the Workers' Compensation Board. This is the
bricklayer's report, a true story.
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 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
be slightly in excess of 500lbs. 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 ensure a slow descent of the bricks. You will note
in block 11 of the accident report form that my Weight is 135lbs. Due to
my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, 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 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 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, that 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, 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 onto me. This explains the two broken legs.
Clive R Gould.
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