You all have shed some rays of sunshine through those foggy mornings for us,
so I thought I would send this "story" along....someone mentioned that it
reminded them of an old irish song????....
Karen
Rita PD76/13


>
> Superior Health Insurance
> ATTN: Claims Review
> PO Box 6789
> New York, NY 12345
>
> Dear Sir,
>
> I'm writing in response to your request for additional information.
>
> In block #3 of the accident report form I put "Trying to do the job
> alone" as the cause of the accident. In your letter you said that I
> should explain more fully and I trust that the following details should
> be sufficient.
>
> I'm a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was working
> alone on the roof of a new 3 story building. When I completed my work I
> discovered I had about 300 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry
> the bricks down by hand I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a
> pulley that was attached to the side of the building at the 3rd floor.
> Securing the rope at ground level I went to to the roof swung the barrel
> out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and
> untied the rope while holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the
> three hundred pounds of bricks.
>
> You will note in block #2 of the accident report form that I stated I
> weighed 165 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. In the middle of the second floor I met the barrel coming
> down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone.
>
> Slowed down only slightly by the barrel I continued my rapid ascent, not
> stopping until my right hand was two knuckles deep into the pulley.
> Fortunately, I retained concouisness and was able to hold tightly to the
> rope in spite of my pain and injuries.
>
> At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the
> ground and the bottom of the barrel broke out. Devoid of the weight of
> the bricks the barrel weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again
> to my weight in box #2. As you might imagine, I began a rather rapid
> descent down the side of the building. In the middle of the second
> floor, I again met the barrel coming up. This accounts for my two
> fractured ankles and lacerations of my legs and lower body. This
> encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen injuries when I
> fell onto the pile of bricks. Fortunately only three vertebrate were
> cracked.
>
> I'm sorry to report however as I lay there on the bricks, in pain,
> unable to stand or move, I lost my presence of mind and let go of the
> rope. The empty barrel, weighing more than the rope, came back down and
> broke both of my legs.
>
> I hope I furnished the information that you need to complete the
> processing of my claim and that you understand how the accident occurred
> by trying to do the job alone.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> S. Anderson
>
> ---------------------------------------------------