Amman, Dec 17 (Petra) -- Prime Minister Jafar Hassan chaired a meeting on Tuesday after the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) announced the results of preliminary tests on gas heaters that caused deaths and suffocations.
The meeting, attended by a number of ministers, the Public Security Director and officials of concerned authorities, went over the tests, which showed all the portable heating devices were used and had a combustion malfunction that increases carbon monoxide in the air, in addition to a flaw in the oxygen sensor.
Furthermore, most of the heaters had no safety systems, such as gas hoses (braided tubes) or specific regulators (clocks/meters), the tests found, and the report was sent to judicial authorities for legal action.
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply permanently banned the production and sale of all "Shamousa" space heaters, known for safety risks, subject to legal liability.
It also cautioned against the use of Shamousa devices or the likes inside closed spaces, and ordered a ban on the production or import of all types of permitted gas heaters, with a key condition: these heaters are only allowed if they come with a specific regulator (fixed clock) and a dedicated hose, following approved safety standards, and emphasizing clear usage instructions and ventilation for safety.
The ministry also stressed the critical need to turn off gas heaters directly at the gas cylinder valve, not just the heater's own switches, for safety and security, highlighting a key precaution against gas leaks and related accidents.
It said the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) will take extra safety measures for heaters, including requiring clear, permanent safety and usage instructions to be displayed on the heater body and its packaging, to prevent incidents like carbon monoxide poisoning.
The ministry said authorities will intensify market inspections for non-compliance with safety measures and will penalize violators as well as double tests on all types of stoves.
It said a direct link between security agencies and the JSMO will be established to provide them with any devices causing accidents for necessary safety testing, including electrical and all energy-powered devices.
//Petra//SS
