Wow!  I will never say I am having a bad day at work  Can anyone after reading
this poor bloke's story?

Pam Blythe wrote:

> The following is an accident report which was printed in the newsletter of
> the British equivalent of the Workers' Compensation Board.
>
> Dear Sir:
>
> I am writing in response to your request for additional information in
> Block #3 of the accident report 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-story building. When I completed my work, I found
> I had some bricks left over which, when weighed later, were found to be
> slightly in excess of 500 LB.. 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 bricks.
>
> You will note in block #11 of the accident report form that my weight is135
> LB.. 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
> report 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.
> 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 LB.. 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, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go
> of the rope. I lay there watching the empty barrel begin its journey back
> down to me. This explains the two broken legs.
>
> This explains why I cited "poor planning" as the cause of the accident.