Hay Scaramedic, I can relate to that story. Worked as a brick layer for a few years and had to replace brick in rotery kiln once, payed double time, but conditions sucked.
Picked up naked striper once with back spasams, Yes a pole was involved.
Had a guy a a flooring plant pull a skid of wood out of a kiln, cable snaped and struck him across the chest and neck. Through him 10 feet across room and down into a sevice pit full of pipes.
He dropped about 10feet down landing prone. When I went down I only had about 2 feet of width to work in. Partner and I got him on a scoop and lifted him up to about shoulder hight befor any one else could grab on. He wayed about 200 lb, so it wasnt to bad. Did i mention all the hot water pipes that ran down the length of the pit?
After we got him out we were both covered in Black muddy oil crap (probibly carcinogenic) and were pulled out of service to clean up.
Saw the patent about a month later wearing a halo and about 30 stiches to close lac to neck