To the left of the photo, as another member pointed out, is a support jack, they are available at most big box stores such as Lowes', HomeDepot etc. Above his head appears to be the subframe from an automobile and to the right of the picture above his head looks like the underside of a car trunk lid.
The piece of equipment to the right looks industrial in nature and may be an old fashioned metal lathe. My guess would be wherever he is, it is underground, thus the support jack. The car trunk lid makes me think it is something fabricated by somone. JMHO judging by what I can get from the grainy photo.