Brick layer! True story? I'm not sure but it's funny.
Possibly the funniest story in a while. 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 a 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,
found that 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 usin g 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 w ent 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 175 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 t he 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 my rapid ascent, not stopping until the
fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pu lley.
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 a great
deal of 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
lbs. I refer you again to my weight.
As you can imagine, I began a rapid descent, down the side of the=2
0building. 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=2 0to 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 t o 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.
Bill Fuller
Bricklayer
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Originally Posted by papagran40
