EE WAS LIFTING BUSHINGS WHILE DOING MILL MAINTENANCE AND EXPERIENCED PAIN IN LOWER BACK AND NUMBNESS IN LEFT LEG. HE CONTINUED TO HAVE LOWER BACK PAIN RADIATING INTO HIS LEFT LEG, AND AFTER A DIAGNOSIS OF A HERNIATED DISC. EE HAD SURGERY. THERE WAS NO MEDICAL TREATMENT OR LOST TIME UNTIL THE DATE OF SURGERY 7/23/02 AT WHICH TIME ACCIDENT BECAME REPORTABLE.