The time has arrived. All the talking and wondering is over. The Health & Safety Authority have issued a statement stating that the new FAR First Aid Response Course will be the only recognised standard from the 1st of September.
See below for the full statement. NB Training Services is now in a position to deliver the First Aid Response Course. Contact us now to book a place on one of our public courses or for in-house training.
NB Training Services LTD are affiliated with the PHECC Registered Institution Safety Solutions.
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
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.
OFA Instructors
The FAR Standard (page 19) provides for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), this facilitates the transition of OFA instructors to FAR. It is important that those OFA instructors, who have not already done so, should without delay apply to a PHECC Recognised Institution (RI), approved to provide the FAR instructor course, to have their qualification/s assessed with a view to becoming FAR certified.
