What Working Alone gets You

The following letter shows what can happen if you try to take the journey without
partners. Taken from 'Getting off the treadmill of Good intentions' by Bill Allison of cadreministries.com.

National Health Insurance, Inc.
ATTN: Claims Review
PO Box 17342
New York, NY 12276
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block number 3 of
the accident report 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, and I trust that the following
details will be sufficient.
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was working alone on the roof
of a new 6-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500
pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower
them in a barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately 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 brick into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it
tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick. You will note in block number
11 of the accident report that I weigh 135 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 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 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
tightly to the rope in spite of my 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 number 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 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 bricks, and,
fortunately, only 3 vertebrae were cracked.
I'm sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain, unable to stand,
and watching the empty barrel 6 stories above me—I again lost my presence of mind,
and I let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope as it came back
down on me and broke both my legs.
I hope I have furnished the information you require as to how the accident occurred.
Sincerely,
Billy the Bricklayer