ON 10/25/02 EE WAS OPENING A VALVE AND FELT SMALL PULL (PAIN) IN GROIN AREA. HE DID NOT REPORT THIS IMMEDIATELY, ON 10/28/02 HE INFORMED HIS SUPERVISOR OF THE INCIDENT. ON 11/14/02 HE WAS DIA GNOSED BY A DR. THAT HE HAD A HERNIA AND ELECTEDTO HAVE SURGERY REPAIR ON 11/19/02. FMC WAITED FOR DR.'S DIAGNOSIS IF HERNIA WAS OF RECENT ORIGIN, RECEIVED INFO ON 12/17/02.