chapter 1. Introduction : a brief history of the MAPO index equation and relationship with a specific preventive plan -- chapter 2. A review of work-related MSDs in caregivers -- chapter 3. Manual handling in the healthcare sector : the international approach to risk assessment -- chapter 4. Manual patient-handling risks : occupational biomechanics (biomechanical hazards of manual patient handling) -- chapter 5. Methods and criteria for analyzing manual patient handling by healthcare workers -- chapter 6. MAPO index validation : studies on the association with WMSDs -- chapter 7. Analysis of patient-handling tasks in operating rooms -- chapter 8. Analysis of outpatient services and day hospital -- chapter 9. Emergency department : setting up preventive strategies for manual patient handling -- chapter 10. Procedures and tools for choosing adequate equipment -- chapter 11. Definition and management of preventive planning -- chapter 12. Examples of manual patient-handling risk assessment in various wards.