TRYING TO DO THE JOB ALONE
Dear Sir:
an writing in response to your request for additional. Information on
the Workman's Comp. Report. In block #3 of the accident reporting form, I
put trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident. You said
in your letter I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following
details will be sufficient.
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident, I was working
alone on the root of a new six story building. When I completed cy wrk.
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 brick into it. Then I went back to the ground
and untied the rope, holding it tightly co insure a slow descent of the 500
pounds of brick. You will note in block 11 of the accident report for that
I weighed 135 lbs.
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 race up the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the 3rd floor, met the barrel coming down. This
explains the fractured skull and broken collarbone. I
Slowed only slightly. I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until
the fingers of my right hand were the 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 pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the
ground---and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devod of the weight of the
bricks, the barrel now weighs approximately 50 pounds.
I refer you again to my weight in biock 11. As you might Imagine,
Segan a rapid !ascent down the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor. ! met the barrel coming up. This
accounts for the: two fractured ankles and the laceration of my legs and lower
today.
The encounter with the barrel allowed me enough to lessen my injuries
when 1 fell orto 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 :o stand, and watching the empty barrel six stories above me
I again lost my presence of mind--and--i let go of the rope. The empty
barrel weighed more than the rope so it come back down on me and broke both
of e legs.
I hope I have furnished the information you require as to how the
accident occurred.