I am writing in response to your request for additional information in block number 3 of the accident recording form. I put "poor planning" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust that the following details will be sufficient. I am a brick layer 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 bricks left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them down in a barrel by using a pulley which fortunately was attached to the side of the building on the sixth floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to secure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will notice in block number 11 of the accident form that I weigh 135 pounds. Due to my surprise of being jerked off of 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 collar bone. Slowed down slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my hands were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, at the time, I gained 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 fell out of the barrel. Before the weight of the bricks, the barrel weighted approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. 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 and the lacerations of my lower legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me down enough to lessen my injuries when I fell on the pile of bricks and fortunately only three vertebras were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that while laying on the bricks in pain and unable to stand and watching the empty barrel stories above, I again lost my presence of mind, I let go of the rope!
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