When you pick up a shovel, I doubt the first thing on your mind is if it is ergonomically fit to dig a hole. It’s designed to do just that — isn’t it?

According to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health Associate Professor Aaron Yoder, there’s a lot more to a tool than perceived purpose. On an episode of the “AgriSafe Talking Total Farmer Health” podcast, Yoder shared why safe work begins with safe equipment — and safe usage.

Merriam-Webster defines ergonomics as the study of the design and arrangement of the things people use so that “people and things interact efficiently and safely.” Ergonomics is most often associated with office equipment: desks, chairs, computer height, feet placement, and so forth. A quick Google search reveals a plethora of illustrated diagrams showing an office worker sitting stick-straight, elbows bent at a perfect ninety degrees, eyes forward, and feet propped on a block — my spine rebels just looking at them. Ergonomics is less so associated with farming equipment, but Yoder argued it should be. His studies concluded that not only do ergonomic approaches lead to better whole-body health for farmers, but they also lead to improved safety of work environments in an occupation that is innately high-risk.

Everyone uses tools differently. This may come as a surprise — after all, how many ways are there to use a hammer, really? But in their studies, Yoder and his colleagues indeed found discrepancies between the way one person held a shovel compared to how another person held the same shovel. For example, some people grip the shaft higher up than others, and some dig from the right versus the left side, depending on their dominant grip. Age influences this as well. The older we get, the more assistance our muscles require to do the same motion.

“Tools come in all shapes and sizes, just like our bodies,” Yoder said. “Find tools that don’t feel like work when you’re using them. If it’s uncomfortable to use, it’s probably not a good fit.”

It’s also important to use a tool for its intended purpose. Sometimes, a tool might work just fine and only seem to be a poor design because we are not using it appropriately.

“A rachet is not a clicking hammer,” Yoder quipped.

Alternatively, some tools are advertised as ergonomic, when really, they’re only ergonomic for use in one particular way. For instance, snow shovels with a bent shaft are ergonomically designed for snow thrown forward, rather than to the side. If you use these shovels for tossing snow sideways, the bend requires extra effort on your behalf to successfully toss the snow out of the way.

So, you have the right tool for the job, and it’s ergonomically sound for its use and your personal limitations. What now?

Switch up tasks, if possible, and take frequent breaks, Yoder said. Working on one job in one position for hours on end can be taxing. On a farm, this is not a difficult rule to follow. There are numerous tasks in a day that vary in scope and demand, so physical stagnation is rare. Still, if you find yourself standing or sitting for an extended period of time or repeating one movement over and over, allow for bursts of alternative movement to keep oxygen flowing to your muscles and brain.

Further, if you’re working at a work station, keep your tools between knee and shoulder height to limit your reach, and have a space ready at waist level for heavy objects. Anti-fatigue mats and sitting stools can also help.

Since ergonomics is, at its core, a science based on finding the safest and best way for a worker to take care of a job, applying it to our workplaces involves examining day-to-day tasks and how they can be improved upon. When in doubt, listen to your body; it won’t alert you of something without reason. And if executed well and often, ergonomics can promote worker health and safety, leading to longer and happier job satisfaction.