A Bricklayer’s Accident Report

Dear Sir:

I am responding to your request for additional information regarding how my recent injury occurred.

In block No. 3 of your 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. 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 attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at the ground level, I went up 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 ensure a slow

descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in block No. 2 of the accident report form that my

weight is 135 pounds.

Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence-of-mind and did

not let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building.

Near the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and 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 allowing me 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 bricks, the barrel then weighed

approximately 50 pounds.

I refer you again to the information in block No. 2. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent

down the side of the building.

Near 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 of the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of

bricks. Fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay in pain on the bricks, unable to stand up and watching

the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The

empty barrel weighed more than the rope so it came down upon me and broke both of my legs. I

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

Discussion Questions

• What could have been done differently to prevent these injuries?

• Do you evaluate the potential hazards of your actions in advance, and adjust or plan

accordingly to prevent injury?

Third Coast Underwriters is a division of Accident Fund Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries.

All policies are underwritten by a licensed insurer subsidiary of Accident Fund Holdings.

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