We’re pleased to share the following thought-provoking article by Wojciech Przytulski, which explores the growing issue of misinformation about asbestos on social media. Asbestos safety is too important to be left to guesswork or online myths, and this article serves as an important reminder of why expert advice matters.
In 2025, anyone with a smartphone can access the entire Health and Safety Executive (HSE) library from the comfort of a van seat, break room, or job site. AI assistants, Google, and government resources put bestpractice asbestos guidance at our fingertips.
And yet, increasingly, this knowledge is bypassed.
Instead of checking HSE website, many turn first to social media posting suspicious material on TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram and asking strangers, “Does anyone know if this is asbestos?” The answers? Often misleading, sometimes outright dangerous.
The Digital Paradox We live in the age of instant information, but also in an age of overconfidence and misinformation.
While scrolling social media, I came across a post in which someone asked for advice about a suspicious floor tiles under. Few comments stood out:
“It’s so low in these you could eat them.” “You could eat asbestos anyway… not that I’d advise it. Only gets you via inhalation.” “Grind em up stick em on ya cornflakes.”
I hope These statements meant as jokes. But they were offered as confident advice, reassuring a homeowner that what they had found was harmless. But the advice was false and could have had serious consequences.
The Risk Isn’t Just the Material—It’s the Mindset
Asbestos exposure remains one of the most serious occupational health risks in the UK. Regulations, licensing, and guidance exist for a reason. But in the social media age, speed often trumps safety. Why consult an expert when 20 people with no credentials are telling you what you want to hear?
Unfortunately, many users don’t understand that:
• Asbestos exposure is cumulative and often invisible.
• You don’t need to see dust to be at risk.
• Incorrect handling, even for a few seconds can be enough to breach the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012.
The Expert Response (That No One Liked)
In the same thread, I posted a professional reply. I outlined two clear options:
Call a asbestos removal contractor and let them assess and manage the risk for you. Or Follow HSE guidance: start with Asbestos Essentials A0, and refer to asbestos essentials specifying which form to us for that specific task.
Not surprisingly, my comment didn’t get as much attention as the more dramatic (and incorrect) ones. This is the challenge we now face.
Why Are People Ignoring Experts?
This is not a problem of ignorance, it’s one of psychology and convenience. People trust platforms and peers more than institutions. Factors include:
• Ease of access: TikTok and YouTube offer quick answers, often with entertaining visuals.
• Social proof: “If 10 others say it’s fine, it must be.”
• False confidence: DIY culture has convinced many they can safely handle anything
• Underestimating the risk: Asbestos symptoms are delayed making it easy to assume no harm was done.
The danger? People don’t just ask questions online they act on the answers.
What Can Be Done?
It’s not enough to publish guidance and assume it will be found. Asbestos professionals, educators, and regulators need to meet the public where they are and that’s on digital platforms.
What we need:
• Short, clear, visual content: Infographics and 60-second myth-busting videos.
• Mobile-friendly tools: Decision-making flowcharts for suspected asbestos.
• Engagement by experts: Presence on forums, comment sections, and popular DIY spaces.
• Collaboration with influencers: Partnering with trusted voices in the construction and housing sectors.
Safety shouldn’t be boring—or buried. It needs to be searchable, sharable, and simplified.
A Wake-Up Call for the Industry
This is a call to action. As an industry, we’ve spent years refining safe work practices. But if we don’t adapt to modern communication habits, our efforts may be drowned out by bad advice. Digital misinformation is a modern-day hazard. It might not be airborne, but it’s spreading fast. Let’s respond with clarity, creativity, and commitment. Let’s ensure that when someone types “Is this asbestos?” into a search bar or AI assistant, they find our voices—not the loudest, but the most trustworthy
Published on Tuesday 19th August 2025