Of bricks and men...... (fwd)

Ryan Shelswell (ryan@nospam.socs.uts.edu.au)
Fri, 19 May 1995 12:15:40 +1000 (EST)

At this point, it may be wise to consider that one may remain calm
and reflective, even during a crisis.

The following story may serve to amuse and (cathartically) induce this
desirable calm. No flames...

Ryan

Don't spend too long rubbing one part of an elephant,
and don't be surprised by a real dragon!
- Musashi

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 18 May 95 20:38:56 EDT
From: stick@nospam.vnet.IBM.COM
To: awills@nospam.st.nepean.uws.edu.au, brthomps@nospam.st.nepean.uws.edu.au,
ryan@nospam.socs.uts.EDU.AU
Subject: Of bricks and men......

From: Adrian Seach
SKILLS V3R0
FF41 x7678 SYDVM1(VTSEACH)
Subject: Of bricks and men......



This is a bricklayer's accident report. It was printed in the newsletter
of the English Work Compensation Board.

Dear Sirs:

I am writing in response to your recent request for additional
information in Block #3 of the accident reporting 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-storey building. When I completed my
work, I found I had some bricks left over which when weighed later were
found to weigh 240 lbs. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I
decided to lower them down in a barrel by using a pulley which 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 bricks into it. Then I went down and untied
the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow decent of the 240 lbs of
bricks. You will note on the accident reporting form that my weight is
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 equally impressive speed. This explains the
fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collarbone, as listed in
Section #3, accident reporting form.

Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the
fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley which
I mentioned in Paragraph 2 of this correspondence. Fortunately by this
time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to
the rope, in spite of the excruciating pain I was now beginning to
experience.

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, the barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs.

I refer you again to my weight. 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, broken tooth and severe
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 on the pile of bricks, in
pain, unable to move and watching the empty barrel six stories above me,
I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope and
the bucket landed on top of my head knocking me unconscious until rescued
by workmates.

Regards,
Stick.
For it is better to run naked through life,
Than to stumble with your pants half down.