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 brick into it. Then I went back to the ground
and untied the rope, holding it tight 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 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 my pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the
ground, and the bottom broke 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 the accident reporting form, 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 accounted for the two fractured ankles and the
lacerations on 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...and
let go of the rope!
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