As harvest draws to a close in Napa Valley's premier wine grape vineyards, a team of UC ergonomics experts is field-testing new equipment that promises to make vineyard work easier and more efficient.

After studying vineyard tasks during the past four years, the Agricultural Ergonomics Research Center, composed of researchers from UC Davis, UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco, has devised new systems intended to decrease the persistent pain experienced by many grape harvesters at the end of the picking season.

This year, center researchers introduced a tractor-mounted piece of equipment that picks up loaded grape bins from the vineyard rows, relieving harvesters of the task of lifting and carrying bins that may weigh as much as 65 pounds.

"Not only are we seeing a significant reduction in persistent pain commonly experienced by workers harvesting grapes, but we're also finding that there is actually an increase in productivity and efficiency because these workers are less fatigued," says John Miles, a UC Davis professor of biological and agricultural engineering.

Miles and colleagues are collaborating with several wine grape growers in the Napa Valley to field test the new equipment. The system will be in use through this week in commercial vineyards and will be available for demonstrations in the UC Davis vineyards after harvest is completed.

The new equipment was developed as part of a vineyard ergonomics project, which is focused on the application of existing technology to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries in wine grape harvesting. The project is funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

Digital images of the equipment in use are available upon request.