Zaki Habak had worked with BlueScope for almost 40 years when he was sacked on December 21 last year.

While working night shift, Mr Habak was returning steel coils from a truck back to the coil field.

As he returned a coil to the field and went to remove the C-shaped hook, it clipped the coil and fell over onto the walkway.

Management at the plant identified this as a breach of a "critical procedure" that sought to avoid the risk of injury from a tipped coil.

Citing two earlier breaches of the same procedure - and the fact Mr Habak was responsible for three of the six coil tips or drops since January 2017 - the company terminated his employment.

READ MORE: Massive Port Kembla cocaine bust

The 57-year-old crane driver, who was the sole provider for his wife, three children and elderly father, lodged an unfair dismissal claim with the Fair Work Commission.

Mr Habak claimed the crane had been malfunctioning for months before the incident.

Fair Work Commissioner Bernie Riordan found Mr Habak had been "negligent" and that the company had a valid reason to sack him.

However, the commissioner also found it was harsh and unreasonable, because it did not consider the consequences on Mr Habak or take in "the faulty operation of the crane".

"I am in no doubt that the attitude of the applicant needs to change," Commissioner Riordan wrote in his judgement.

"He needs to take more care in undertaking his role. Whilst I am hesitant in ordering reinstatement, ultimately, I am of the view that it is the only remedy which is appropriate."