Lifting Hooks Guide: G80, G100 Eye, Clevis, Swivel & Self-Locking Hook Selection

A lifting hook is the connection between a sling and a load. It's the small but critical component at every chain sling leg, every wire rope sling assembly, every chain block tail, every crane line — and it's the place where most rigging incidents happen. Get the hook geometry right, the grade right, the latch right, and the orientation right, and a lifting assembly does its job for years. Get any of those wrong and the load drops.

This guide is the comprehensive reference for lifting hooks in Australian industrial rigging. We cover the six main hook geometry types — eye, clevis, swivel, self-locking, foundry, and grab — across G80 and G100 alloy steel grades, plus the G70 transport-only hooks that catch buyers out. We cover AS 3776 and EN 1677 standards compliance, the latch-removal-equals-WHS-deviation rule that every site safety officer enforces, and the practical AU brand tier where AIMS supplies 116+ Austlift, Beaver, and Yoke lifting hooks. Browse the lifting hook range or call (02) 9773 0122 for sizing help.

Lifting hooks sit at the working end of every sling assembly — see our Chain Sling Guide, Wire Rope Slings Guide, and Webbing & Round Slings Guide for the broader sling system. For the wire rope and termination hardware that hooks attach to, see our Wire Rope Guide.

What a lifting hook is — and what it isn't

A lifting hook is a forged or cast alloy steel component with a J-shaped or curved profile, used to connect a load to a lifting line. The load enters the hook through the open throat at the point and bears in the rounded saddle at the inside curve. Most lifting hooks include a safety latch (spring-loaded gate) at the throat to prevent the load from accidentally bouncing out under shock load.

This guide is scoped to industrial rigging hooks for lifting loads — the alloy steel forged hooks used with chain slings, wire rope slings, synthetic slings, chain blocks, electric hoists and overhead cranes. It is not about: gym/weight-lifting hook straps (a different product entirely), wall-mount storage hooks, fishing hooks, S-hooks for retail display, or push-on quick-link hooks. Industrial lifting hooks are individually serial-numbered, stamped with manufacturer, grade, WLL and standard reference, and supplied with traceable test certification.

The simple test: a lifting-rated hook is stamped with a Working Load Limit (WLL) in tonnes or kilograms, an alloy steel grade marking (G80 = "8" or "80" stamp, G100 = "10" or "100"), the manufacturer name, a unique serial number, and either an AS 3776 reference (when supplied as part of a chain sling assembly) or an EN 1677-2/-3/-4/-5 component-level reference. Without those markings, the hook is not lifting equipment.

The six hook geometry types — eye, clevis, swivel, self-locking, foundry, grab

Lifting hooks are described by two attributes: how they connect at the top (eye, clevis, swivel, shank) and the throat/point geometry (standard with latch, self-locking, foundry-wide-throat, grab-narrow-throat). The combinations are the core hook decision matrix.

For most general industrial chain sling work, the choice is between an eye sling hook (when supplied with a factory-swaged sling termination), a clevis sling hook (when fitting in-line to a chain), or a self-locking hook for high-cycle or unmanned applications. Specialty hooks — foundry, grab, coupling — fill specific niche applications described below.

G80 vs G100 — grade selection and capacity

Two alloy steel grades dominate Australian lifting hook supply: Grade 80 (G80) and Grade 100 (G100). The numbers refer to the alloy steel's tensile strength class. Grade 100 alloy steel is approximately 25% stronger than Grade 80 at the same physical dimension — meaning a G100 hook of the same throat size as a G80 hook has roughly 25% higher Working Load Limit.

The decision matrix:

• G80 (Grade 80) — the AU industrial standard. Compliant with AS 3776 and EN 1677-2 (latch hooks) / EN 1677-3 (self-locking). The default choice for general chain sling work, hire-fleet equipment, and routine industrial lifting. Most economical per unit of capacity.
• G100 (Grade 100) — premium tier, 25% capacity uplift. Compliant with EN 1677-5 (latch hooks). Used where the same physical envelope must carry a higher load — e.g. retro-fitting heavier capacity into existing assemblies, or where weight reduction matters (lighter hook for given WLL).
• G70 (Grade 70) — TRANSPORT ONLY, NOT LIFTING. Compliant with AS/NZS 4344 + AS/NZS 4380 for road transport tie-down. Rated as Lashing Capacity (LC), not WLL. Visually identifiable by gold zinc-plate finish.

For the same physical hook size, the WLL progression is roughly: G70 (transport) → G80 (1.0× lifting baseline) → G100 (1.25× G80). Mixing grades within an assembly is not approved — match all components to the lowest grade in the system.

Values are typical manufacturer-published figures and vary by maker. Always read the WLL stamped on the hook itself for the authoritative rating.

Eye sling hooks — the workhorse

An eye sling hook has a closed circular eye at the top through which a chain end-link, master link, or sling pin passes. The eye is part of the hook's forged body — not an attached fitting. The throat at the bottom carries a spring-loaded safety latch.

Eye hooks are typically supplied with sling assemblies as the load-end termination. The chain sling factory swages the chain into the hook eye permanently, or the sling is supplied with an open eye that connects via a master link. Eye hooks are the "permanent" choice — once the sling assembly is built, the hook stays attached.

AIMS stocks the AU industrial standard range:

• Austlift G80 Eye Sling Hook with Safety Latch SE Type — the workhorse G80 eye hook
• Austlift G100 Sling Hook Eye With Latch — premium G100 variant
• Yoke G80 Eye Sling Hook — Yoke G80 standard
• Yoke G100 Eye Sling Hook With Latch — Yoke G100 premium

Clevis sling hooks — in-line connection

A clevis sling hook has a U-shaped clevis at the top with a removable cross-pin. The chain end-link drops into the clevis between the two ears, and the cross-pin is fitted to lock the link in place. The clevis pin is typically secured by a circlip, split pin, or threaded design depending on the manufacturer.

The advantage over an eye hook: a clevis hook can be attached to a chain end-link in-line without needing to open the chain link or unswage the sling assembly. Faster assembly and disassembly, useful for in-line connections, hire-fleet maintenance, and field replacement of damaged hooks. The trade-off is that the clevis pin is an additional component that requires inspection — clevis pins can wear, work loose, or be lost.

From the SlingSmarter blog: "Clevis pins are secured by two cross pins making this actually safer and more secure than a sling hook connected by a component connector." The clevis is the engineered connection; the eye hook requires a separate connector.

AIMS stocks across G80 and G100:

• Clevis Sling Hook With Safety Latch 8mm WLL 2.0T — entry-level G80
• Austlift G100 Sling Hook Clevis With Latch — premium G100
• Yoke G80 Clevis Sling Hook
• Yoke G100 Clevis Sling Hook With Latch

Swivel hooks — preventing chain twist

A swivel hook has a rotating bearing between the hook body and the top connection (eye, clevis, or shank). The rotation allows the hook to spin freely under load — preventing the chain or wire rope sling from winding up if the load rotates during the lift.

Two swivel mechanisms are common:

• Plain swivel — bushing-style rotation. Rotates under no-load conditions; locks under load (friction). Lower cost, suitable for general use.
• Ball-bearing swivel — caged ball bearings between the swivel surfaces. Rotates freely under full load. Higher cost, used where loads need to rotate during the lift (e.g. positioning, machinery installation).

Critical distinction: most plain swivel hooks are not designed to rotate under load. If you need the hook to rotate while carrying weight (positioning a load mid-lift, slewing a machinery package), the ball-bearing swivel is the right choice. AIMS stocks the Austlift G80 Swivel Self-Locking Hook with Ball Bearing for this application — combines positive locking with under-load rotation.

Self-locking hooks — the "Crosby" genericised term

A self-locking hook (sometimes called a "positive latching" hook, or in AU/US oilfield slang, a "Crosby") replaces the simple spring-loaded safety latch with an automatic-close mechanism that locks closed under load. The gate cannot be opened while a load is applied — the operator must release the load first, then manually disengage the locking mechanism to open the hook and release the load.

The forum-validated rationale from r/Tools: "The 'self locking hook' is what we referred to as a Crosby in the oil field. And yeah, it's a brand name. It's also commonly genericized." Same way "Loctite" became the generic for threadlocker and "Magswitch" for switchable lifting magnet. Crosby's Shur-Loc design is the benchmark; AU-supplied equivalents from Austlift and Yoke meet the same engineering tier.

From r/4x4Australia (110+ comments thread): "You need a self locking hook which are safer than clevis hooks as it's nearly impossible for mechanical roll out." The positive locking eliminates the failure mode where a slack moment in the lift can let the load bounce out of a simple spring-latched hook.

Two main self-locking mechanisms:

• Spring-loaded auto-close gate — gate snaps closed when the load enters; held closed by spring tension under load. Standard self-locking design.
• Swivel-gate (rotate-90 to open) — gate rotates 90° to open. From r/cranes: "Swivel gate has to rotate 90 to open. Both eliminate the safety latch that allows something to snag or open it when raising the hook up." Used where a snag-resistant gate is required (overhead crane work, confined spaces).

AIMS stocks the full self-locking range:

• Austlift G80 LE Type Eye Self-Locking Hook
• Austlift G80 LC Type Clevis Self-Locking Hook
• Austlift G100 Eye Self-Locking Hook Alloy Steel
• Austlift G100 Clevis Self-Locking Hook Alloy Steel
• Austlift G80 Swivel Self-Locking Hook With Ball Bearing
• Austlift Grip Swivel Self-Locking Hook NS Type
• Yoke G80 Eye Self-Locking Hook
• Yoke G100 Eye Self-Locking Hook
• Yoke G80 Clevis Self-Locking Hook
• Yoke G80 Shank Self-Locking Hook — for direct welded/threaded mounting

Foundry hooks — wide-throat for cast and oversize loads

A foundry hook has a wide-throat geometry without a safety latch. The wide throat accepts oversized lifting points — pipe ends, cast-iron lifting eyes, fabricated lugs, large diameters that won't fit through a standard hook's narrower throat. The absence of a latch is a deliberate design choice: at foundry temperatures (and with the slag, debris, and rough cast surfaces typical of foundry environments), a spring latch would jam, fail, or interfere with quick attachment.

Foundry hooks are used in steel-mill, metal-casting, pipe-handling, and heavy-fabrication applications where the lifting point geometry exceeds what a standard hook can accept. The trade-off is reduced fail-safe behaviour — without a latch, the load can theoretically bounce out under shock, so foundry hook applications require operator discipline and specific lift planning.

AIMS stocks Yoke G80 + G100 plus Beaver foundry hooks:

• Yoke G80 Eye Foundry Hook
• Yoke G100 Eye Foundry Hook
• Yoke G100 Foundry Clevis Hook
• Beaver Grade 80 Eye Foundry Hook (2 to 12.5 Tonne)

Grab hooks — chain shortening and in-line securing

A grab hook has a deliberately narrow throat profile shaped to grip onto a chain link rather than a lifting point. The chain link "drops into" the grab hook's narrow throat and is held by mechanical interlock — the next link on either side is too wide to fit, so the chosen link is locked in place.

Grab hooks are used to shorten a chain in-line. Example: a 3-metre chain leg is too long for a 2-metre lift. Insert a grab hook midway along the chain; drop the appropriate chain link into the grab hook's throat; the chain is now effectively 2 metres long with the excess 1-metre tail hanging dead. The lift proceeds at the shortened length without needing to swap to a different chain assembly.

The two grab hook variants:

• Standard grab hook — narrow-throat hook, link secured by gravity + load tension. Austlift G80 GE Type Eye Grab Hook, Austlift G80 GC Type Clevis Grab Hook.
• Grab hook with safety pin — includes a pin or wedge that locks the chain link into the throat positively. Austlift G100 Clevis Grab Hook With Safety Pin. Required by some site safety standards for unmanned overhead applications.

Full AIMS grab hook range:

• Austlift G100 Eye Grab Hook Alloy Steel
• Austlift G100 Clevis Grab Hook Alloy Steel
• Yoke G100 Eye Grab Hook
• Yoke G80 Clevis Grab Hook
• Yoke G100 Clevis Grab Hook

Coupling hooks and hoist hooks — specialty

Two specialty hook types complete the AU industrial range:

Coupling sling hooks — purpose-built for joining two chain segments without using a master link. The coupling hook has two open ends (or a hook on one end and a captive eye on the other) that interlock with two chain end-links. Yoke G80 Coupling Sling Hook at AIMS. Niche but standard for chain assembly extension.

Hoist hooks — the main hook on a chain block, electric hoist, or crane's load line. Built around a thrust bearing in the eye to allow the hook to rotate under load without winding up the lifting line. Typically wide-throat with substantial safety latch. Austlift Hoist Hook Eye Alloy at AIMS — used as the load-line termination on chain blocks and electric hoists.

AS 3776 + EN 1677 — Australian and European standards

Lifting hooks supplied in Australia comply with one or more of the following standards, stamped on the hook body or the data tag:

• AS 3776:2015 — Alloy steel chain slings. Includes Grade 80 hook spec when supplied as part of a chain sling assembly. The primary AU compliance standard for lifting hooks fitted to chain slings.
• EN 1677-2 — Forged hook with latch, Grade 8 (G80). The component-level European standard adopted globally.
• EN 1677-3 — Self-locking hook, Grade 8.
• EN 1677-4 — Cable/wire rope hook with latch.
• EN 1677-5 — Forged hook with latch, Grade 10 (G100).
• EN 818-4 — Chain dimensions (referenced for hook dimensional compatibility with chain).
• ASME B30.10 — US equivalent — hooks (referenced for international compatibility).
• AS/NZS 4344 + AS/NZS 4380 — Transport tie-down hooks (G70 hooks for transport, NOT lifting).

AU principal-contractor sites typically accept either AS 3776 or EN 1677 marking — both are current and AU regulator–accepted. Reject hooks that carry only an unverified manufacturer mark or a claim of compliance without a stamped reference.

Pre-use inspection — the 5-point check

Pre-use hook inspection takes 60 seconds and catches the failures before they happen. AS 3776 and EN 1677 specify the inspection criteria; the practical 5-point check is:

Hook retirement criteria

A lifting hook retires on damage and deformation, not on age alone. AS 3776 + EN 1677 retirement criteria:

• Throat opening increased 5% or more from manufacturer's spec — load has stretched the hook open.
• Wear at saddle or point exceeding 10% of original cross-section — material loss reduces effective load-bearing capacity.
• Visible cracks anywhere on the hook body — particularly at the inside curve, saddle, or eye/clevis transition.
• Bent shank or twisted body — overload deformation, even if straightened.
• Safety latch broken, missing, sticky, or weak — replace latch (if approved) or retire hook.
• Heat damage — hook exposed to fire, welding sparks, or temperatures above the manufacturer's rating. Tempering of alloy steel shifts under heat.
• Corrosion pitting — surface rust is acceptable; pitting that reduces material thickness is not.
• Illegible data plate — no traceable WLL or serial number = out of service.
• Shock load history — any hook that has been shock-loaded (dropped, sudden severe load) requires inspection by a competent person.

The standard practice for retired hooks is to physically destroy them (cut the hook from the body) so they can't be returned to service by mistake. Periodic thorough inspection by a competent person is required typically every 3–12 months depending on use cycle.

AIMS lifting hook range

AIMS stocks 116+ lifting hook products at /collections/lifting-hooks, covering all major hook geometries across G80 and G100 grades plus G70 transport hooks (clearly identified as transport-only). The brand mix sits with Austlift, Beaver, and Yoke as the AU industrial premium tier — all AS 3776 / EN 1677 stamped, traceable, individually serial-numbered.

Eye sling hooks (the workhorse):

• Austlift G80 Eye Sling Hook with Safety Latch SE Type
• Austlift G100 Sling Hook Eye With Latch
• Yoke G80 Eye Sling Hook
• Yoke G100 Eye Sling Hook With Latch

Clevis sling hooks (in-line connection):

• Austlift G100 Sling Hook Clevis With Latch
• Yoke G80 Clevis Sling Hook
• Yoke G100 Clevis Sling Hook With Latch

Self-locking hooks (the "Crosby" tier):

• Austlift G80 LE Type Eye Self-Locking Hook
• Austlift G80 LC Type Clevis Self-Locking Hook
• Austlift G100 Eye Self-Locking Hook
• Austlift G80 Swivel Self-Locking Hook With Ball Bearing
• Austlift Grip Swivel Self-Locking Hook NS Type
• Yoke G100 Eye Self-Locking Hook
• Yoke G80 Shank Self-Locking Hook

Grab hooks (chain shortening):

• Austlift G80 GE Type Eye Grab Hook
• Austlift G80 GC Type Clevis Grab Hook
• Austlift G100 Clevis Grab Hook With Safety Pin
• Yoke G100 Clevis Grab Hook

Foundry hooks (wide-throat for cast loads):

• Yoke G80 Eye Foundry Hook
• Yoke G100 Foundry Clevis Hook
• Beaver Grade 80 Eye Foundry Hook (2–12.5 Tonne)

Specialty:

• Yoke G80 Coupling Sling Hook — joining chain segments
• Austlift Hoist Hook Eye Alloy — main hook for hoists/cranes

G70 transport hooks (NOT for lifting):

• Austlift G70 Clevis Winged Grab Hook — for transport tie-down (AS/NZS 4344)
• Austlift G70 Clevis Slip Hook — for transport tie-down

Need help sizing for your application? Call us on (02) 9773 0122 or contact our team. We can match the right hook geometry, grade and capacity to your sling assembly and load.

Common mistakes — forum-validated

Selection checklist + how to order

A practical pre-order checklist:

1. Application: lifting (G80/G100, AS 3776 / EN 1677) or transport (G70, AS/NZS 4344). Don't mix.
2. Top connection: eye (permanent assembly), clevis (in-line connection), swivel (under-load rotation), shank (welded/threaded mount).
3. Throat geometry: standard with safety latch (most general lifting), self-locking (overhead unmanned), foundry (wide-throat for cast loads), grab (chain shortening).
4. Grade: G80 (industrial standard), G100 (25% capacity uplift in same physical envelope).
5. WLL: sized to the load with 5:1 safety factor for general industrial chain sling work, higher for people-moving and critical lifts.
6. Standards compliance: AS 3776 or EN 1677 stamped on the hook body. Non-negotiable.
7. Operator licensing: dogging or rigging licence as required (CPCCLDG3001 minimum for hoist-attached lifting work).
8. Pre-use inspection: 5-point check before every lift.

For sling assemblies that include hooks, see our companion guides:

• Chain Sling Guide — for chain sling + hook assemblies
• Wire Rope Slings Guide — for wire rope sling + hook
• Webbing & Round Slings Guide — for synthetic sling + hook
• Wire Rope Guide — for the rope itself + termination hardware
• Bow Shackle Guide — connecting hardware
• Load Binder Guide — G70 transport tie-down (load binder + transport hook system)
• SWL meaning — WLL/MBL/SWL framework
• Beam Clamp Guide — overhead lifting attachment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an eye hook and a clevis hook?

An eye hook has a closed circular eye at the top — used for permanent sling assemblies where the chain or wire rope is factory-swaged into the eye, or where a master link connects to it. A clevis hook has a U-shaped clevis with a removable cross-pin — the chain end-link drops between the clevis ears and the cross-pin locks it in place. Eye hooks are the "permanent" choice; clevis hooks allow in-line attachment without disassembling the sling.

What's the advantage of clevis sling hooks over eye hooks?

Clevis hooks attach directly to a chain end-link via the clevis cross-pin without needing a master link or component connector. The connection is engineered into the hook itself, simplifying assembly, reducing the number of components in the rigging system, and making field replacement of damaged hooks faster. The cross-pin is typically secured by two cross pins or a circlip, making the connection mechanically robust. Eye hooks are simpler and more economical, but require a master link or sling pin to connect to a chain.

What is a self-locking hook?

A self-locking hook (sometimes called "positive latching" or genericised as a "Crosby hook" after the Crosby Shur-Loc design) replaces the simple spring-loaded safety latch with an automatic-close mechanism that locks closed under load. The gate cannot be opened while a load is applied — the operator must release the load first, then manually disengage the locking mechanism. Used for overhead unmanned applications, towing, and critical lifts where positive locking is required to prevent accidental load release.

What is the difference between G80 and G100 lifting hooks?

Grade 100 alloy steel is approximately 25% stronger than Grade 80 at the same physical dimension — meaning a G100 hook of the same throat size as a G80 hook has roughly 25% higher Working Load Limit. Grade 80 is the AU industrial standard (compliant with AS 3776 + EN 1677-2/-3). Grade 100 is the premium tier (compliant with EN 1677-5), used where the same physical envelope must carry a higher load. Both grades are alloy steel; the difference is the metallurgy and tempering specification.

When should I use a swivel hook?

Use a swivel hook when the load may rotate during the lift — common for machinery installation, rotating loads on hoists, and applications where chain or wire rope sling twist would cause problems. For under-no-load rotation only, a plain swivel hook is sufficient. For rotation under load (positioning a hanging load mid-lift), a ball-bearing swivel hook is required — the caged ball bearings allow free rotation even at full WLL. The Austlift G80 Swivel Self-Locking Hook With Ball Bearing combines positive locking with under-load rotation.

Can I remove the safety latch from a lifting hook?

No. Removing the safety latch is a documentable WHS deviation. The latch prevents the load from accidentally bouncing out of the throat under shock load — without it, the hook becomes a foundry-style open-throat hook that requires specific application discipline and lift planning. If the latch is broken, replace it with a manufacturer-approved spare or retire the hook. The forum consensus from r/Machinists is direct: removing the latch puts the operator personally on the line for a documentable safety breach. Foundry hooks are the exception — they're designed without a latch from the manufacturer (intentional, not removed).

What is a foundry hook used for?

A foundry hook has a wide-throat geometry without a safety latch, designed for foundry, casting, large-bore pipe, and heavy-fabrication applications where the lifting point geometry exceeds what a standard hook can accept. The wide throat accepts oversized lifting points (cast-iron lifting eyes, fabricated lugs, large-diameter pipe ends). The absence of a latch is deliberate — at foundry temperatures with slag, debris, and rough cast surfaces, a spring latch would jam or fail. Foundry hook applications require operator discipline and specific lift planning to compensate for the absent latch.

What's the difference between a grab hook and a sling hook?

A grab hook has a deliberately narrow throat shaped to grip onto a chain link rather than a lifting point — used to shorten a chain in-line or secure a chain to itself. A sling hook has a wider throat shaped to accept a lifting point (eye, ring, master link, cast lug). They serve completely different functions: grab hooks work on chain links, sling hooks work on lifting points. Most rigging assemblies use both — a grab hook midway along a chain leg for shortening, and a sling hook at the load end for connecting to the load.

Are G70 hooks suitable for lifting?

No. Grade 70 chain and Grade 70 hooks are rated for road transport tie-down per AS/NZS 4344 and AS/NZS 4380 — not for overhead lifting. The capacity stamp on G70 hooks is "Lashing Capacity (LC)" not "Working Load Limit (WLL)" — the design factor and fatigue specification are different. The visual cue is gold zinc-plate finish (most G70 hooks are gold zinc-plated). Mistaking a G70 transport hook for a G80 lifting hook is one of the most common buyer errors. Always read the grade stamp before use.

What is AS 3776?

AS 3776:2015 is the Australian Standard for Alloy Steel Chain Slings. It specifies the design, manufacture, testing, marking and certification requirements for Grade 80 chain sling assemblies, including the hooks supplied as part of those assemblies. AS 3776-stamped hooks are the standard AU industrial choice for chain sling work. The standard is enforced on regulated lifting work, hire-fleet equipment, and principal-contractor sites.

What is EN 1677?

EN 1677 is the European component-level standard for lifting hooks, adopted globally and accepted on most AU regulated sites. The standard has multiple parts: EN 1677-2 (forged hook with latch, G80), EN 1677-3 (self-locking hook, G80), EN 1677-4 (cable/wire rope hook with latch), and EN 1677-5 (forged hook with latch, G100). Hooks stamped EN 1677-X are component-certified independently of the sling assembly they're fitted to.

How do I inspect a lifting hook before use?

Five-point pre-use check: (1) Data plate legible — WLL, grade marking (8/80/10/100), AS 3776 or EN 1677 reference, manufacturer, serial number visible. (2) Throat opening — measure with callipers; 5% increase from manufacturer's spec = retire. (3) Wear at saddle and point — 10% material loss = retire. (4) Safety latch — springs positively to closed, holds under finger pressure. (5) Body integrity — no cracks, no deformation, no overload twist. The check takes 60 seconds. Damaged or undocumented hooks go out of service until inspected by a competent person.

When should a lifting hook be retired?

Retire on any of: throat opening 5% or more above manufacturer's spec; wear at saddle or point exceeding 10% of original cross-section; visible cracks; bent shank or twisted body; broken or missing safety latch (replace if approved, otherwise retire); heat damage (fire, welding sparks, or temperatures above the manufacturer's rating); corrosion pitting reducing material thickness; illegible data plate; shock-load history (requires inspection by competent person before re-use). The standard practice is to physically destroy retired hooks (cut them off the body) so they can't be returned to service by mistake.

What is the WLL of a 13mm G80 lifting hook?

Approximately 5,300 kg (5.3 tonne) WLL for a Grade 80 lifting hook fitted to 13mm chain, per AS 3776 and EN 1677-2 typical manufacturer figures. The G100 equivalent at the same physical size carries approximately 6,700 kg (6.7 tonne) — about 25% higher. Always read the WLL stamped on the hook itself for the authoritative figure; manufacturer values vary slightly. For multi-leg sling assemblies, the WLL is derated by sling angle — see our Chain Sling Guide for the multi-leg geometry rules.

Can a lifting hook be repaired or re-rated?

Generally no. Lifting hooks are forged components rated by their as-manufactured geometry and metallurgy. Welding, grinding, heating, or bending a hook changes its mechanical properties and voids the original certification. Some manufacturers approve specific spare-parts replacements (latches, clevis pins) when the body is undamaged. Re-rating is not approved — the hook is rated as supplied. If a hook is damaged beyond approved spare-parts replacement, retire it.

What's a "Crosby" hook in Australia?

"Crosby" in AU rigging vernacular usually refers to a self-locking hook — the genericised brand name from the US-based Crosby Group's Shur-Loc design. The forum consensus from r/Tools is direct: "The 'self locking hook' is what we referred to as a Crosby in the oil field. And yeah, it's a brand name. It's also commonly genericized." Same way Hilti = drill, Loctite = threadlocker, Magswitch = switchable lifting magnet. AU-supplied equivalents from Austlift and Yoke (G80/G100 self-locking hooks) meet the same engineering tier.