Equipment Operator had been operating Caterpillar 627F Scraper to strip overburden. Operator had been operating scraper w/out using ""cushion hitch"" feature. At end of shift on 1/31/12, he spoke of sore neck to co-workers. On 2/1/12 he went to Doctor. Doctor's diagnosis is of a cervical strain and for him not to operate a scraper until some physical therapy could be performed.