EE WAS WELDING ON DOZER ARM. HIS BACK BECAME INCREASINGLY SORE WITH NUMBNESS IN RIGHT FOOT. HE WENT TO E.R. ON 9/30 & REPORTED INCIDENT TO MANAGEMENT ON 10/1. HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WHERE X- RAYS, CAT SCAN & MRI WERE PERFORMED. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HERNIATED DISC WITH NERVE COMPRESSION. SURGERY WAS PERFORMED 10/2/01. HE WILL BE UNABLE TO RETURN TO WORK FOR 12-16 WEEKS.