Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to your request for additional information in box number three on the accident reporting form. I had put "poor planning" in that box as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully so I hope the following details will be sufficient.

I am a bricklayer by trade and on the day of the accident I was working alone on the roof of a new six storey building. When I had completed my work I discovered that I had about 500 lbs of bricks left over. Rather than carry them down by hand I decided to lower them down by using a pulley, which was fortunately attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went back to the roof and attached a barrel to hold the bricks. I swung the barrel out over the side of the building and loaded the bricks into it.

I went back down to ground level and untied the rope holding the barrel. I held the rope tightly to ensure a slow descent of the 500 lbs of bricks. You will note in box number two of the accident reporting form that I weigh 165 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 rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone. Slowed only slightly I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers on 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, despite my pain.

At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of it. Deprived of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed about 50 lbs. Once again I refer you to my weight in box number two. As you might well 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 and the lacerations on my legs and lower parts of my body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries, so that when I fell on the pile of bricks only three vertebrae were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay on the ground, unable to stand, and seeing the barrel six storeys above me, I once again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope.

I trust this clarifies matters to your satisfaction.

Yours truly,

Joe Fizzics