(The following article is an accident victim's response to an OSHA request to elaborate upon the unfortunate worker's mishap. Although it may appear humorous in a fictitious sense, the story is true and tragic.)

Dear Sirs:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block #3 of the accident reporting form, I put "trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully. 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 discovered that I had about 500 pounds of bricks left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel using a pulley which, fortunately, was attached to the side of the building.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went back to the ground floor and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the bricks. You will note in block #11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh 145 pounds.

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 coming down.

This explains the fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my hand were to 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 pain.

At approximately the same time however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground, and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block #11. 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 and the lacerations on my legs and lower body.

The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks and, fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope so it came back down on me and broke both of my legs.

I hope I have furnished the information you required as to how the accident occurred.

quixote@toysmakeuspowerful.com