Work Cover in Ireland

Workcover in Ireland

While walking in Waterford yesterday I saw a couple of scaffolders using a pulley to raise their tools and equipment from the back of a truck which was about 20 metres below.  For some reason I immediately started whistling the song "Why Murphy's not at Work Today.

I have included the photographs Deb and I took which you can look at while listening to the song.

I have listed the lyrics below for your reference, but if you want the hear the song just go to Youtube and search for Why Murphys not at work today.  There are quite a few versions.

Murphy's song immediately came to mind when I saw this

Dear Sir I write this note to inform you of my plight 

And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight 

My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly gray 

I write this note to tell why Paddy's not at work today 

While working on the fourteenth floor, some bricks I had to clear 

And to throw them down from off the top seemed quite a good idea 

But the gaffer wasn't very pleased, he was an awful sod 

He said I had to cart them down the ladder in me hod. 

Well clearing all those bricks by hand, it seemed so very slow 

So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below 

But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see 

That a barrel full of building bricks is heavier than me. 

So when I had untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead 

And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead 

I took off like a rocket and to my dismay I found 

That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down. 

Well the barrel broke my shoulder as on to the ground it sped 

And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with me head 

I held on tight, though numb with shock from this almighty blow 

And the barrel spilled out half its load fourteen floors below 

Now when those building bricks fell from the barrel to the floor 

I then outweighed the barrel so I started down once more 

I held on tightly to the rope as I flew to the ground 

And I landed on those building bricks that were scattered all 

around. 

Now as I lay there on the deck I thought I'd passed the worst 

But when the barrel reached the top, that's when the bottom burst 

A shower of bricks came down on me, I knew I had no hope 

In all of this confusion, I let go the bloody rope. 

The barrel being heavier, it started down once more 

And landed right on top of me as I lay on the floor 

It broke three ribs and my left arm, and I can only say 

That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today. 

Deb and Den