[1] another reason for single-legged stools: less likely to trip you up if you need to jump quickly away from a kicking cow. I wouldn't be surprised if nitro factory staff prized that reason, but told management they used them to not fall asleep.
The maxims are The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries¹, the third of which is originally from the Schlock Mercenary webcomic strip of November 1, 2009².
I saw some bricklayers lay paving stones recently. A few tons of them. They also had strap-on single-legged stools and I was really surprised to see such a specific tool!
> "[He'd] give a warning shout and run. So would everybody, you included."
reminded me of MAXIM 3: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23503989
[1] another reason for single-legged stools: less likely to trip you up if you need to jump quickly away from a kicking cow. I wouldn't be surprised if nitro factory staff prized that reason, but told management they used them to not fall asleep.