1 June 2017

Statement of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in relation to transition to Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) First Aid Response Education and Training Standard

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Following on from previous communications, the HSA is now in a position to announce that as and from 1 September 2017, it will only recognise the PHECC First Aid Response Education and Training Standard (FAR) as meeting the needs of occupational first aid (OFA) in all workplaces.

Occupational First Aiders

The HSA will recognize training and assessment relating to QQI’s Level 5 OFA (5N1207) that took place up to 31 August 2017. That recognition will be for a 2 year period.  (Please note that it is possible that the QQI component certificate could be dated post 31 August 2017 e.g. October or December 2017).

Refresher certificates issued by recognised training providers up to 31 August 2017 will also be recognised by the HSA for a 2 year period.  Thereafter existing occupational first aiders can apply to have their qualifications individually assessed by a participating PHECC recognised institution (RI) in accordance with the RI’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy and procedures.