blocky bricky

[popawisky]

This is a bricklayer's accident report that was printed in the
newsletter of the English 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 reporting 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 I had some bricks left over which when weighed later were
found to weigh 240 lbs. 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 at the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at ground level, 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 insure a slow descent of the 240 lbs of
bricks. You will note on the accident reporting form that my weight is
135 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 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 explains the
fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collarbone, as listed in
Section 3, accident reporting 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
which I mentioned in Paragraph 2 of this correspondence. Fortunately by
this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold
tightly to the rope, in spite of the excruciating pain I was now
beginning to experience.

At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the
ground-and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Now devoid of the weight
of the bricks, the barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs. I refer you
again to my weight. 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, broken tooth and severe
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, unable to move and watching the empty barrel six stories above me,
I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope.

[bitingmidge]

Good one!

Another here in Oz is a favourite of mine:

Bricky working in the wet on a nasty clay site (in Bris or Sydney- forgotten which), suffering from that interminable build-up of clay on his boots (OK they were sandshoes, just don't tell the kiddies at home). He leant against the power pole with one arm to help balance, and proceeded to shake his leg to get the mud off.

Ever alert brickies labourer saw what was happening from behind, thought his boss was being electrocuted, and had the presence of mind to belt the "leaning arm" with a shovel to get bricklayer away from the source of the electricity, breaking the arm in a couple of places in the process.

Dont' know if he got a payrise that week or not.

P

[ozwinner]

I dont beleive it.

You meen the brickie had a labourer who could actualy think??????????????:confused:

Al

[Tonyz]

Popawisky the story goes back years I remember a song/rhyme/ditty type thing called "Why Murphy wont be in at work today." Sung to a typical Irish melody and voice sorry but its got to be more realistic, the Irish would do this kinda thing not us Aussies

[popawisky]

Too right cobber, I first heard this about 10 years ago. It's as old as the hills.
Funny thing how many aussies can claim Irish decendency????