A serious safety incident at an oil refinery has prompted the Health Ministry to issue a directive to all medical institutions and emergency response bodies to inspect all air and oxygen canisters in their facilities, a ministry spokesperson announced on Friday.
Two women were declared dead after being found unresponsive in a lab at the Ashdod Refinery on Wednesday, and early reports suggested a malfunction in their oxygen suits. The Health Ministry stated that concerns were raised about potentially toxic substances in the oxygen cylinders.
According to the directive, all cylinders must be inspected to verify that the imprint on the cylinder body, the color, and the label indicating the contents are all consistent. The ministry emphasized that the supplier's identity must also be consistent.
Any cylinder that does not meet that requirement must be taken out of service and marked accordingly.
Additionally, all canisters from the company Salem Yaakov and Sons are to be taken out of service immediately. Health maintenance organizations are working to conduct a recall of canisters in use by home-ventilated patients and to provide alternatives.
United Hatzalah suspends use of all oxygen canisters
United Hatzalah has instructed all volunteers across Israel to temporarily suspend the use of their oxygen canisters following the directive on Friday, according to a United Hatzalah statement.
The statement stressed that this did not reflect any issue with United Hatzalah or first responders' use of oxygen tanks and that patient safety is always its paramount concern. The organization is complying with the most stringent medical standards.
United Hatzalah’s logistics and medical divisions are working to replace the canisters and supply approved alternative equipment.
The organization remains in communication with the Health Ministry as the review continues and operations are restored.