Hazi Schwartzman, Head of the Safety Administration at the Ministry of Labor, signed a safety order for the factory “Salam Yaakov and Sons,” which prohibits the sale of medical air equipment until the factory’s compliance is inspected. The Safety Administration clarifies that this pertains to medical air tanks, not oxygen tanks.
Hazi Schwartzman: “The Safety Administration continues to investigate the incident along with the Israel Police to find the causes of the severe tragic event at the Bazan refinery in Ashdod. As part of the measures to ensure the safety of workers and the public, orders have been issued to those involved in the incident. The Ministry of Labor will not tolerate safety violations and violations concerning the health of workers in Israel.”
Following the unfortunate incident at the Ashdod oil refineries, where two female workers perished, it became clear that the tanks from which the deceased inhaled at the refinery were supplied by the company “Salam Yaakov and Sons.”
Following the fatal incident, the Safety Administration at the Ministry of Labor identified several additional tanks supplied by the company, which allegedly contain medical air, but the physical stamping on the tank does not match the actual type of gas contained within.
This situation constitutes a safety risk and could lead to misuse or operational errors.
Hazi Schwartzman, Head of the Safety Administration at the Ministry of Labor, instructed to immediately notify the Ministry of Health about the locations of all tanks to prevent their use in hospitals and health funds immediately. Concurrently, Safety Administration inspectors contacted all locations where the tanks were identified, with the operation coordinated with the Israel Police.
The Safety Administration at the Ministry of Labor is now publishing immediate implementation instructions:
- Visual Inspection: Inspect every oxygen tank in your possession. Check for full compliance between the type of gas (oxygen) and the stamping on the tank body.
- Prohibition of Use: If a tank is identified where the stamping does not match the gas content (or there is ambiguity regarding it), its use is strictly prohibited.
- Marking and Isolation: Mark the tank conspicuously with a sign “Do Not Use – Return for Inspection” and isolate it from other compliant tanks.
- Reporting and Return: Immediately report to the safety officer/warehouse manager for the consolidation of tanks and their return to the supplier for comprehensive inspection and recalibration.
Remember: Safety above all. Do not take risks using equipment that is not properly identified according to the standard.
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