WHILE PERFORMING HIS NORMAL DUTIES AS A MINER OPERATOR, EMPLOYEE WAS CHECKING HIS WATER FILTER& STATED HE FELT PAIN IN HIS BACK; HE CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL 5/10/00, AT WHICH TIME HE WAS AD- VISED BY DR TO REMAIN OFF WORK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. HE WAS DIAGNOSED BY DR AS HAVING EARLY DEGENERATIVE CHANGES. I AM ENCLOSING A COPY OF THE DR REPORT.