The Accident

     This one needs an intro, so you won't be lost at the beginning. This
     man was in an accident (work accident, not car accident), so he filled
     out an insurance claim. The insurance company contacted him and asked
     for more information. This was his response:
 
     "I am writing in response to your request for additional information
     for block number 3 of the accident reporting form. I put 'poor
     planning' as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter than I
     should explain more fully and I trust the following detail will be
     sufficient. I am an amateur radio operator and on the day of the
     accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80 foot
     tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the
     course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of
     tools and spare hardware. Rather than carry the now un-needed tools
     and material down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a
     small barrel by using a pulley, which was fortunately attached to the
     gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing the rope at ground level, I
     went to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and material into
     the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope,
     holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the 300 pounds of
     tools.
 
     You will note in block number 11 of the accident reporting form that I
     weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise of 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 of speed
     up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met
     the barrel coming back down. This explains my fractured skull and
     broken collarbone. 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 onto the rope in spite of my pain. At
     approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools hit the
     ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of
 
     the tools, the barrel now weighed approximately 20 pounds. I refer you
     again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a
     rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40
     foot level, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two
     fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs and lower body. The
     encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when
     I fell onto the pile of tools, and, fortunately, only three vertebrae
     were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on
     the tools, in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel 80
     feet above me, I again lost my presence of mind. I let go of the
     rope..."