A Bricklayer's Accident Report

[FineLinen]

This is a true story printed in the newsletter of the Australian 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 that I had some bricks left over which, when weighed later, were found to be slightly in excess of 500lbs.

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 on the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at the ground 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 ensure a slow descent of the bricks.

You will note in Block 11 of the accident report form that I weigh 135lbs.

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 explained the fractured skull, minor abrasions, and the broken collar bone, 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 beginning to experience quite significant pain.

At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel and all the bricks fell out.

Now devoid of the weight of the bricks, that barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs. I refer you again to my weight.

As you can 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 several 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 and unable to move, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope, and I lay there watching the empty barrel begin its journey back down onto me. This explains the two broken legs.

I hope this answers your inquiry.

Kind regards,

Mike Pashby

[margamuffin]

 Hey, cool to read that!  My dad has told that joke for years.  He was a missionary in India (where he was born) and he used to read all kinds of letters from Indians and read them with their accent (which he was VERY good at!)  this was one of them!  He also had a good one about a man who wanted to become a preacher (Dad used the deep southern black accent for this one and he did it well!)  so this other minister says, "well, how well do you know the bible?"  and he responds, " I know the bible from generation to revelution!! let me tell you my favorite bible story!" 

It's quite long and I don't have it with me and my dad has passed on.  this man in the story proceeds to include stories from the bible but they're all mixed up.  It's quite halarious!!  I remember him telling this at meal times to the travelling missionaries and friends.  I was just little and didn't get them back then, but all the adults around the table were laughing their heads off! 

Margie, a new member to this website....I go by margamuffiin...from the Ragamuffin Gospel.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Another funny one, FL.......thanks....... :thumbsup:

[FineLinen]

Margie, a new member to this website....I go by margamuffiin...from the Ragamuffin Gospel.

Maramuffin: welcome to the Tent and thankyou for your post. Do you know that the Ragamuffin Gospel is on line for us? Dr. Clarence Jordan was a devoted disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and a believer in the Restitution of all things. He, of course, is the author of the Raggamuffin Gospels

Dr. Clarence Jordan

http://wordtruth.com/2tim_4.htm

The Cotton Patch Gospels

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/intro-pauline.htm

God will seek us-- how long?

Until He finds us. And when He's found the last little shriveling rebellious soul and has depopulated hell, then death will be swallowed up in victory and Christ will turn all things to the Father that He may be all in all. Then every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. -Dr. Clarence Jordan-

The Letter to the Christians in Washington [Romans]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/romans.htm

A Letter to the Christians in Atlanta [1 Corinthians]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/corinth-1.htm

The Second Letter to the Christians in Atlanta [2 Corinthians]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/corinth-2.htm

The Letter to the churches of the Georgia convention [Galatians]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/galatians.htm

The Letter to the churches in Birmingham [Ephesians]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/ephesians.htm

The letter to the alabaster African church -Smithville Ala.- [Philippians]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/philippians.htm

The Letter to the Christians in Columbus [Colossians]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/colossians.htm

The First Letter to the Selma Christians [1 Thessalonians]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/thess-1.htm

The Second Letter to the Selma Christians[2 Thessalonians]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/thess-2.htm

The First Letter to Timothy [1 Timothy]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/timothy-1.htm

The Second Letter to Timothy [2 Timothy]

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/timothy-2.htm

Titus

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/titus.htm

The Letter to Philemon

http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/philemon.htm

[FineLinen]

:cloud9: Another funny one, FL.......thanks....... :thumbsup:

Dear Cardinal....you are very welcome. There are times in our lives when being funny is not easy. But our Father is very, very good, and a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.   

[martincisneros]

Maybe I just have too much compassion for people, but I couldn't laugh.  I just groaned through every detail of the accident report, thinking that was one hell of a day. :sigh:

There's been enough people on the planet over the last fifty to a hundred years to where statistically -- someone -- somewhere...

[tallman]

I see that some are interested in moving some bricks.  Take a look at this video.

http://en.fooooo.com/watch.php?id=11dab95070696762d442628c8c2468d5


Tallman

All means: Including everything, excluding nothing.

[jabcat]

Maybe I just have too much compassion for people, but I couldn't laugh.  I just groaned through every detail of the accident report, thinking that was one hell of a day. :sigh:

There's been enough people on the planet over the last fifty to a hundred years to where statistically -- someone -- somewhere...

I really think this story is funny...maybe it's because I have my own very long line of experience with bricks... :BangHead: