An Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to begin mandatory ear screening and full medical checks for job candidates before employment, warning that failure to do so could lead to serious health and legal issues later.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, Dr. Nse-Obong Undie, Chief Consultant ENT Surgeon at the National Hospital Abuja, said the move would help employers understand workers’ hearing conditions early and provide proof in case of future emergencies.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr. Undie explained that pre-employment hearing tests would protect both employers and employees, especially in jobs that expose workers to loud noise. She said the process would ensure proper documentation of workers’ health status and prevent disputes over responsibility if hearing problems arise later.
Speaking further, Undie said employees should also keep copies of their medical results from the recruitment stage. “Employees should have a copy of the result of the examination done during the employment phase to serve as evidence for any future emergencies,” she said.
She warned employers not to overlook the risks, adding that undetected hearing issues could become major problems. “Employers should know that these things may eventually cause problems; the best thing would have been for them to have a pre-employment check of the hearing status of everyone,” she said.
Undie also highlighted certain professions that pose a higher risk to hearing health. According to her, jobs such as military service, where officers are exposed to gunfire at shooting ranges, can damage the ears if proper protection is not used. She advised workers to insist on protective gear. “Insist that they give you ear muffs and use it to cover your ears,” she said.
She added that without proper records, employers may deny responsibility when issues arise. “When someone develops problems and complains, the defence would be, we didn’t know that you had any problems before employment and may not take responsibility for it,” Undie explained.
The ENT surgeon also advised workers in high-noise environments, such as airport tarmacs, to take precautions to protect their hearing. Undie further called for stronger collaboration between organisations and ENT specialists to improve ear health.
