To conclude our series on Customs and Border Protection this month, we’ll look at the most common ways a CBP worker can get injured during work. Border Patrol Agents and CBP Officers have a dangerous job. Often, the conditions of work are harsh, and they must identify and apprehend dangerous criminals trying to cross the border. Below are some of the most common injuries or illnesses CBP workers suffer from.
Harsh Conditions
CBP employees work in harsh conditions, especially on our southern border with Mexico. Most of that are experiences desert like weather much of the year. This means extreme temperatures, wind and dust storms, and the lack of water and shelter. Temperatures reach well above 100⁰F during the day in the summer and can fall below freezing at night. Training exercises that occur in the heat can lead to heat-related sicknesses or death. High winds can cause dust storms in the desert decreasing visibility and may lead to vehicle accidents. Lack of water and shelter can become an issue if officers and agents are on day-long missions, or longer. There may not be another building in sight for miles, and in the harsh sun, that can lead to all sorts of issues. One being, having a short supply of water, which of course can lead to a whole host of problems.
Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents are extremely common, whether it’s in the desert due to lack of visibility, running into a large animal, or on the streets in a city. Plane and helicopter provide air support to the agents on the ground; however, these accidents are quite common.
Illnesses
Some of these are due to a pre-existing condition, one that develops, or as mentioned earlier, from the heat.
Drowning
Sometimes agents and officers provide marine support for missions. Rivers such as the Rio Grande and the Colorado River have strong currents and cause accidents.
Shootings
Unfortunately, this is all too common. This is a dangerous line of work, dealing with dangerous criminals. Officer-involved shootings happen and can leave a worker injured, paralyzed, or even dead.
Any of these can happen and can leave an officer or agent with a permanent injury or symptoms that affect their ability to perform their job. We have had clients from the CBP (agents, officers, and chemists) who have been approved for conditions ranging from tibialis tendonitis, anxiety disorder, degenerative fraying of the shoulder, bilateral knee enthesopathy, lumbar spinal stenosis, and much more.
If you are a CBP worker and have been injured or developed an illness while employed in your position, and can no longer perform all your job duties, please give us a call at 877-226-2723. We would love to schedule a FREE consultation with you and discuss the specifics of your case and see if we can help you. You can also fill out this INQUIRY form.
