22nd March 2006, 01:38 PM
If trowels can be holstered, how about inventing a mattock sling. I have often bashed myself around the head whilst carrying a mattock/shovel combo over one shoulder. Could not some kind of strappage be designed to facilitate ease of transportation and keep both hands free? I am envisaging some kind of 'boy scout carrying flag on parade' type arrangement. Such an object would surely be a surefire winner and could be included in allocations of PPE to new staff members. It could even have reflective strips on it and be made of hard wearing gortex-esque fabric (hand crafted leather might not be durable enough).