Hey everyone,

I had heard this before and finally got a copy of it and wanted to share it with everyone.

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to your request for additional information.  In block number 3 of the accident report form, I put "trying to do the job alone' 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 bricklayer by trade.  On the date of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new 6-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 tightly insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick.  You will note in block number 11 of the accident report form that I weigh 135 pounds.

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 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 fell out of the barrel.  Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighs approximately 50 pounds.

I refer you again to my weight in 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 accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.  The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks, and, fortunately, only 3 vertebrae were cracked.

I'm sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain, unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel 6 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 came back down on me and broke both my legs.

I hope I have furnished the information you require as to how the accident occurred.


I laughed my head off when I first heard this story. 

But then it reminded my of NALTEA and that the small group of volunteers can not do the job alone.  They need help.  Please join NALTEA and help NALTEA put forth to the industry the concerns and issues that not only face abstractors but that will also face the consumer.

Jay Duncan