Dear Sir:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information.
In block number 3 of the Accident Reporting Form, I put "poor planing", 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 then 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. I then went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it
tightly 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 me 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 fell 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 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 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 he empty barrel six stories above me......I again
lost my presence of mind......
I LET GO OF THE ROPE.