Posted By Jason Gould You have probably already heard this but i used it after a little manipulation in a accident investiagtion talk. It went very well Brick Accident 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.

Posted By Philip Roberts John, I have e-mailed you direct with some photographs of unusual methods of access which you may find fits your need of amusing H&S talks. Phil

Posted By John Mackessack The response has been overwhelming! Thanks to you all for your contributions. The safety at work competition / means of access one is fantastic for making a point. I've got loads to get on with now...could be the start of a new series......If you have anymore please mail me at john.mackessack@nstarch.com (I've filled up my hotmail account! D'oh!) Cheers John

Posted By Gilly Margrave Thanks John, you've just given me a fairly surreal idea. I try and come up with unusual things for people to look at to demonstrate that the basic principles of risk assessment can apply to virtually anything. So here's one for any literary/thespian folk out there. How about a risk assessment around the hazards of playing Antigonus in Shakespeare's Winter's Tale in the days when there was a bear-pit next to the Globe theatre? What do we make of the stage direction "exit pursued by a bear"?