Workers were drilling a water well. They were removing the drill pipes from the well with a block when the block went past the block stop at the top of the rig and broke free. The block fell to the drill deck and the bails on the block struck an employee, causing him to fall 8 feet to the ground. He was also struck by slips that were dislodged by the impact of the block. He suffered four fractured vertebrae and lacerations to the head and ear.