Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to your request for additional information.  In Block 3 of the accident report form, I put "poor planning" as the cause of my accident. You asked for a better explanation, and I trust the following will be sufficient.

I am a plumber 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 that I had approximately 300 lbs of pipe fittings left over. (Later I found them to be closer to 500lbs). Rather than carry them down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which was attached to the side of the building on the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, slung the barrel out and loaded the pipe fittings into it.

Then, I went down and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the pipe fittings. You will note in Block 11 of the accident report form that I weigh 135lbs.

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 at an equally impressive speed. This explains the  fractured skull, minor abrasions on my face, and the broken collar bone, as listed in section 3 of the accident report form.

Slowed only slightly by the impact of the barrel, 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 in spite of the pain, was sure to hold tightly to the rope. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of pipe fittings hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.

Devoid of the weight of the pipe fittings, the barrel now weighed approximately 50 lbs. Again, as noted in block 11, my weight is 135 Lbs. As you can 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 lacerations on 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 onto the pile of pipe fittings, and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, as I lay there on the pile of pipe fittings, in pain and unable to move, I again lost my presence of mind. I let go of the rope.