Ergonomics is a Tradition

You may have just heard the word "ergonomics" in recent years, and as a formal field of study it is relatively new, but the concepts have been around for a long time.  In fact, in many ways ergonomics is tens of thousands of years old — ever since that first human picked up a rock to use as a tool to overcome a human limitation. 

The 19th Century is particularly full of tools and devices that correspond to good application of the principles of ergonomics, even though the word was never used at the time.  Once you start looking, you'll spot many antique ergonomic tools and pieces of equipment.  Below are pictures and illustrations several items that have caught my eye.

(The reason for raising these points is that it makes ergonomics sound more familiar to people and thus more accessible.  This is particularly important in industry where it is important to obtain a buy-in from supervisors, engineers, and almost everyone.)

Corn Planter You can imagine how your back would ache and how much time you would waste if you had to bend over thousands of times to plant corn seeds.  This device became quite popular in the 19th Century, making it easier on the farmers as well as faster.

 

The Ergonomic Scythe The one-handed sickle (left) undoubtedly caused large numbers of back injuries thru the centuries.  At right is one of the great ergonomic products of the 1800's — the two-handed scythe.  Clearly it is easier on the human and much more productive.

 

Hay Cutter Two grips make it easier to cut a segment out of a hay stack at waist height.

 

"Bob Cratchet" Sit/Stand Desk In the 19th Century, secretaries would routinely alternate between sitting and standing.  Desks were standing height, with tall stools available when you wanted to sit.  It wasn't until the early 20th Century that desks were lowered and required sitting all day — hence static posture and a source of fatigue.

 

Thomas Jefferson's Copyholder Copyholders only recently have become common in offices.  But Thomas Jefferson invented this copyholder (it holds 5 books).  The original is on display in Monticello.

 

Compound Grips Compound levers involve one set of levers acting on another, which multiplies the force.  An ordinary single lever shears would need handles many feet long to equal the force of these shears.

 

More Compound Grips Top: A very powerful tool for pulling apart a link on a chain. Middle: A leather punch. Bottom: A tool for lifting jars from boiling water during canning.  The configuration of this grip differs from the other two and takes only a small hand motion to use.

 

Hand Drill Before electric drills, this is what you used.  One turn of the handle yields multiple turns of the bit.  (This isn't SO antique ─ I used it as a kid.)

 

Yankee Screwdriver The spiral action reduces hand motions.  One push replaces dozens of wrist twists.

 

Apple Peeler/Corer I don't know if anyone ever got Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from peeling and coring apples, but somebody thought it was too much work and invented one of the greatest contraptions of all time.

 

Nail Runner This old nail runner had a feeder for nails, thus eliminating many repetitive hand motions to pick up a nail and place it precisely.

 

Saddlemaker's Bench The large tong-like apparatus is a fixture to hold the saddle.  It is tightened by using the foot pedal (which can be locked into place). Fixtures relieve stress on the hands and reduce the force needed to perform an action.

 

Shop Chair This task chair is surprisingly comfortable, primarily because of the shallow seat pan (short front-to-back dimension) which provides good lumbar support.  Also, it is adjustable in several dimensions ─ not easily, but better than many "modern" styles.

 

Hand Strap "Don't use your hand as a fixture" is a good general rule.  For some tools, the best resolution is to strap the tool to your hand.  Horse groomers discovered this a long time ago and added hand straps on brushes to prevent muscle fatigue.

 

Cornshucker Again, another tool that is strapped to your hand.  The point is in the palm of your hand.

 

Ring Knife Very small tools can be strapped to your finger, like this ring knife.  You don't need to hold it constantly, or pick it up and put it down.  It's always immediately available.  You can do other things while wearing it.  The ring knife has been around a long time and is still being used.

 

Some efficiency experts from in the 1910's and 20's recommended continuing to alternate between sitting and standing, as the above illustration shows.  This particular design was a trifle clumsy (to say the least!) and probably for that reason didn't catch on.  But the fact that they were thinking about it provides some insight. Footnote:  In reading scientific management textbooks from the first half of the 20th Century it seems there was a lot more reference to fatigue than is emphasized today.  One efficiency expert wrote, "There's a direct relationship between fatigue and a loss in productivity."