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.