I'm 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 in 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 bricks into it. Then I
went back to the ground and untied the rope, tightly holding
it to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You
will note in block number eleven of the accident reporting
form that I weigh 135 pounds.
Due to my surprise to 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
in 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 fell out of the barrel. Devoid
of the weight of bricks, the barrel now weighed only
approximately fifty pounds.
I refer you again to my weight in block number eleven. 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 and the
lacerations of 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--
I LET GO OF THE ROPE---
MOTIVATIONAL CONCEPTS, INC. P.O.BOX 5163 CHARLOTTESVILLE,
VIRGINIA 22903
