Was he smoking, dropping a glowing butt on the floor to ignite the leaking hydraulic fluid?
It might be the other way. This guy shows up to do the job but meanwhile someone else who's connected is on the paperwork at a much higher rate.
This guy takes the deal because with a fatal incident on his record, no one else will hire him.
Wouldn’t be the first time you know who owns the unions.
Is it even sure that the operator was responsible? Maybe it was a ground crew/load issue, or poor maintenance or crane construction?