INSURANCE CLAIM
>
> The following is an accident report that was printed
> in the newsletter of the British equivalent of the
> Workers' Compensation Board.
>
> 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 500
> lbs. 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 insure a slow descent of
> the bricks.
>
> You will note in block #11 of the accident report
> form that my weight is 135 lbs. 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
> 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, the 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. I lay there watching the empty barrel begin its
> journey back down to me. This explains the two broken
> legs.
>
> This explains why I cited "poor planning" as the
> cause of the accident.
PS my Christmas tree is leaking.....and it's BRG? Hmmmmm
Rick Dunleavy
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