EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING STEM BLAST HOLES, MOVING ROCK IN 5 GALLON BUCKETS. AS HE LIFTED A BUCKET, HE FELT A PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK. HE WAS SENT TO A DOCTOR AND DIAGNOSED WITH BACK STRAIN. HE CONT INUED HIS NORMAL DUTIES. IN MARCH 2002 HE RETURNED TO THE DOCTOR AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HERNIATED DISC.