This is a bricklayer's accident report, which was printed in the newsletter of the Australian equivalent of the Workers' Compensation Board. This is a true story. Had this guy died, he'd have received the Darwin Award for
sure......
>
> 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 that I had some
> bricks
> left over which, when weighed later, were found to be slightly in excess
> of
> 500 lb.. 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
> on
> 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 I weigh 135 lb.
> 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 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 explained the fractured skull, minor
> abrasions
> and the broken collar bone, as listed in Section 3 of the accident report
> form.
>
> Slowed only slightly, I continued by 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 beginning to experience pain. 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
> lb.. I refer you again to my weight. As you can 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 several 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 onto 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 down onto me. This
> explains the two broken legs.
>
> I hope this answers your inquiry.