Published 29 May 2025 · For Life First Aid
Every workplace in Ireland has a legal obligation to have first aid provision in place. If you are an employer or health and safety officer in Dublin looking to get staff trained, this guide covers what the law requires, what a workplace first aid course includes, and how to get your team certified.
Yes. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Irish employers are required to ensure that adequate first aid equipment and a sufficient number of trained first aiders are available in the workplace.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) provides guidance on what "adequate" means for different workplace types. The key factors are:
For many offices and low-risk workplaces, having one or two employees trained in cardiac first response — alongside a stocked first aid kit — meets the requirement. For higher-risk environments, a higher ratio of trained first aiders is expected.
A workplace first aid course trains employees to respond to medical emergencies on site — before an ambulance arrives. The most relevant certification for cardiac emergencies in Irish workplaces is the PHECC Cardiac First Responder (CFR) qualification.
A CFR course covers:
There are different levels of first aid certification available in Ireland. For the majority of Dublin office and retail environments, a PHECC CFR certificate is the most practical option because:
For more detail on the certification, read our full guide to CFR courses in Dublin.
Legal requirements aside, the case for workplace first aid training in Dublin is straightforward: cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any age, in any setting — including an office, a school staffroom, or a retail floor.
In Ireland, the average ambulance response time in an urban area is around 8 to 12 minutes. Survival rates for cardiac arrest drop by approximately 10% for every minute without CPR. A trained colleague who starts CPR immediately can double or triple a person's chance of survival.
Read more about why a Cardiac First Responder course is worth it.
The HSA does not set a single mandatory ratio for all workplaces — it depends on the risk assessment for your specific environment. As a general guideline:
Training more than the minimum is always a sensible approach — absences, shift changes, and staff turnover mean that relying on a single person is a risk.
A PHECC CFR course costs €85 per person. For groups or team bookings, contact us to discuss dates and availability. Read our full guide on CPR course costs in Dublin for more context on what to expect.
Compared to the cost of a day's training elsewhere, a 3.5-hour course that delivers a two-year PHECC qualification represents strong value — both financially and in terms of staff confidence.
A PHECC CFR certificate is valid for two years. After that, a refresher course is required to renew it. Read more about how long a CFR certificate lasts in Ireland.
We recommend keeping a record of your staff's certification dates so renewals can be scheduled before certificates lapse.
Our courses are currently held at Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin. Group bookings can be arranged to suit your team — contact us to discuss scheduling.
No. The CFR course is designed for complete beginners. No medical background is required.
PHECC is the statutory pre-hospital emergency care regulator in Ireland. A PHECC CFR certificate is a nationally recognised qualification that is accepted by employers and regulatory bodies across Ireland.
Contact us via the booking form or call +353-86-896-1087 to discuss availability.
Our PHECC-certified Cardiac First Responder course runs in small groups of up to six — ideal for team bookings where everyone gets proper hands-on practice.
Workplace first aid training is both a legal obligation and a genuine investment in your team's safety. In a cardiac emergency, a trained colleague who acts immediately is the single most important factor in survival.
If you are looking to get your Dublin team first aid certified, get in touch today to discuss group bookings and availability.