RESULTS OF POOR PLANNING PAINFULLY APPARENT

Dear Sir, I am writing in response to your request for additional information regarding block #3 of the accident report form. You asked me to explain more fully why I wrote "poor planning" as the cause of my accident. 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, 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 in a barrel by using a pulley, which, fortunately, was attached to the side of the building of the sixth floor. After securing the rope, at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded, the bricks. Then I went back down and untied the rope, holding tightly to ensure the 500 pounds of bricks would descend slowly. You will note in block #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 of bricks coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collarbone noted in block #7. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right had were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly onto the rope despite the pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel hit the ground so violently that the bottom broke. Devoid of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately 30 pounds. I again refer you to my weight in block #11. As you can imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I again met the barrel, which this time was coming up. This accounts for two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs and lower body noted in block #8. Thanks to my encounter with the barrel, which slowed my descent, the injuries when I hit the pile of bricks weren't as severe as they otherwise might have been. Fortunately, I only cracked three of my vertebrae, as noted in block #9. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain and unable to stand while watching the empty barrel swinging six stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind -- and let go of the rope! The bottom of the barrel is responsible for the round welt on my chest referred to in block #13. I tried to catch the barrel with my hands, but my failure to do so explains why this letter is being dictated, rather than typed or written by me. I hope that this letter satisfactorily explains why I wrote "poor planning" in block #3 of the accident report.

Sincerely, I.M. Hurting

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