A BOILER room in a Thurrock school had such dangerous levels of asbestos that it was branded off limits by the Health and Safety Executive.

Thurrock Council is now one of ten authorities in the country to be told to improve its asbestos management or face legal action, it is also the only authority in the country to be served a prohibition notice, after the boiler room was discovered in April.

The HSE’s report on its findings in Thurrock, published last week, said: “Two improvement notices served on Local Authority for the training of employees, and need to review and update asbestos surveys. Site specific prohibition notice served on LA for asbestos management in boiler room at school premises.”

The school was visited after Thurrock Council failed to provide a satisfactory response to a survey of 152 authorities about their asbestos management.

The HSE was looking at schools that were built between 1945 and 1980 specifically, because these were often fire proofed with asbestos.

The HSE says that a prohibition notice deals with immediate danger and is given when an “employer fails to protect their employees and the public and there is a risk of serious personal injury.”

Thurrock Council has refused to name the school where the boiler room caused such concern, but it did say that there wasn’t any danger now.

Council spokesman Andy Lever said: “The council was issued with notices earlier this year, following an inspection of the management of asbestos in schools.

“These included a prohibition notice in April for a school boiler house that was dealt with immediately by the council, to the satisfaction of the HSE.

“The council and the HSE continue to work together effectively on asbestos inspection requirements in schools and on providing training for school staff.”