AMMAN — 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 findings were presented during a meeting attended by several ministers, the Director of Public Security, and representatives from the Royal Scientific Society and other relevant institutions.

 

Preliminary investigations into recent suffocation and fatal incidents have revealed that all gas heaters involved were previously used units suffering from combustion defects, leading to dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide and malfunctioning oxygen sensors.

 

Most of the heaters were also found to be improperly equipped, lacking designated gas hoses and approved pressure regulators. The government has referred the investigation report to judicial authorities to pursue legal action, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

 

In response, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply announced a permanent ban on the production, sale, and circulation of gas heaters commonly known as “Shammooseh,” as well as similar models, warning that violators would face legal consequences.

 

The ministry also advised against using gas heaters in fully enclosed spaces and mandated that all other approved gas heaters must be produced and supplied with authorised fixed pressure regulators and designated gas hoses, in accordance with established safety standards.

 

It stressed the importance of adhering to safety procedures, including ensuring adequate ventilation, using proper hoses, and switching off heaters directly at the gas cylinder rather than relying on built-in control switches.

 

Meanwhile, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation (JSMO) will introduce additional safety measures requiring clear, permanent safety and usage instructions to be displayed on heaters and their packaging.

 

Authorities will intensify market inspections to enforce compliance and impose penalties on violators, while expanding testing of all types of heaters. A direct coordination mechanism will also be established between security agencies and JSMO to examine devices involved in accidents, including electrical and other energy-powered appliances, the ministry said.