>***BEGIN---
>For whatever it's worth...at least it should make your problems seem
>smaller.
>
>Possibly the funniest story in a long while. This is a bricklayer's
>accident report, which was printed in the newsletter of the Australian
>equivalent of workers compensation board. This is a true story. Had
>this guy died, he'd have received the Darwin award
><http://www.darwinawards.com> for sure.
>
>POOR PLANNING
>
>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 are 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 I
>found that I had some bricks left over, which weighed later were found
>to be slightly in excess of 500 pounds.
>
>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 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 went down and untied the rope, holding the rope tightly to
>ensure a slow decent of the bricks. You will note in block 11 of the
>accident report that I weigh 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 equal,
>impressive speed. This explained the fractured skull, minor abrasions
>and broken collarbone, as listed in section 3 of the accident report
>form.
>
>Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid accent, 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 beginning to experience
>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 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
>building. 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 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 in the pile of bricks,
>the pain, unable to 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 to me. This explains the two broken legs.
>
>I hope this answers your inquiry.
>
>--- END***
>For whatever it's worth...at least it should make your problems seem
>smaller.
>
>Possibly the funniest story in a long while. This is a bricklayer's
>accident report, which was printed in the newsletter of the Australian
>equivalent of workers compensation board. This is a true story. Had
>this guy died, he'd have received the Darwin award
><http://www.darwinawards.com> for sure.
>
>POOR PLANNING
>
>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 are 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 I
>found that I had some bricks left over, which weighed later were found
>to be slightly in excess of 500 pounds.
>
>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 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 went down and untied the rope, holding the rope tightly to
>ensure a slow decent of the bricks. You will note in block 11 of the
>accident report that I weigh 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 equal,
>impressive speed. This explained the fractured skull, minor abrasions
>and broken collarbone, as listed in section 3 of the accident report
>form.
>
>Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid accent, 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 beginning to experience
>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 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
>building. 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 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 in the pile of bricks,
>the pain, unable to 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 to me. This explains the two broken legs.
>
>I hope this answers your inquiry.
>
>--- END***
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