Want a laugh? - Read Bricklayers Accident Report

[chrischris]

True Story --

Dear Sir:

I am writing in response to your request for additional information in Block #3 of the accident reporting form. I put "Poor Planning" as the cause of my work 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-story 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 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 descent 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 of the 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...

[1171]

An oldie but a goodie. It was made up in illistration form for an overhead presentation over 40 years ago but still gets dusted off and makes the rounds of training classes all over the country.

[punk]

OH MY!! That's just to funny! I can only imagine what that would have looked like. I feel sorry for the individual, but this is just to good to not overlook!
Thanks for posting it, even if it is an oldie but goodie!!! I've not seen it before!!

[tweety00]

I just seen this talked about on a show I think it was called myths .....


They tried to redo this same problem

[chrischris]

It was new to me too, and just tickled my funny bone this morning.

[LONDON53]

Another "oldie" but "goodie" I heard this one in Elementary School over 40 years ago.

The Sunday School teacher asked her class "does anyone know where Jesus lives" ? One girl said heaven??? A little guy in the back said Jesus lives in his bathroom. The Sunday School teacher says "what makes you think that Johnny"? Johnny replied..well every morning my Dad bangs on the bathroom door and yells...Jesus! Are you still in there!!!

Hahaha

[Guest]

I feel bad laughing if it indeed really happened, but I just cant help it, the visuals. lol I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the adjuster was reading that one.

[WCisBS]

The link below is "The Bricklayer's Song" by Ray Stevens. It even has the lyrics so you can sing along.

http://susie1114.com/BrickLayersSong.html