ABSTRACT
O Structural aspects of the environment of the units O Installed equipment O Staff training on the specific topic
All these aspects can be schematically arranged in two more general frames:
O Work organization (number of operators assigned to patient handling over three shifts, number and kind of motorial disability of patients and operators’ training)
O Workplace (facilities of lifting/displacing patients and structural aspects of environments housing manual handling operations (patients’ room and toilets)
To calculate MAPO index, use is made of a data recording sheet (Appendix 1) that consists of two parts. The first part, which is completed during an interview with the head nurse, collects all information concerning organisation and training aspects; the second part, which is completed during an onsite inspection, is specifically designed for the analysis of environment and equipment aspects and for assessment of specific subsidiary maneuver.
