The hook is the last thing standing between a load and the ground, yet it rarely gets the attention given to the crane, hoist or below-the-hook device it is attached to.
Choosing the right hook type, and understanding what keeps it safe in use, matters just as much as specifying the crane itself.
This article covers the three hook types you are most likely to come across, and the safety latches and standard that govern them.
The Three Main Types of Crane Hook
Not every lift calls for the same hook. The right choice depends on how the load needs to move, how much it weighs, and how much the hook itself needs to be inspected day to day.
Here are the three types you’ll come across most often.
Eye Hooks
An eye hook is the simplest and most common type, fitted with a plain eye at the top for direct connection to a chain, wire rope or hoist. Because it does not rotate independently, it is best suited to lifts where the load and hook stay aligned throughout, such as fixed vertical lifts on a workstation or jib crane. Its simplicity also makes it easier to inspect, since there are fewer moving parts to check.
Swivel Hooks
A swivel hook incorporates a bearing that allows the hook to rotate independently of the lifting line, either freely or under load depending on the bearing type. This is useful where a load needs to be turned or positioned during the lift, or where twisting in the sling or chain needs to be relieved. Swivel hooks are common on hoists, balancers and winches used for more varied handling tasks, though the additional bearing is another component that needs to be included in routine checks.
Ramshorn (Twin) Hooks
A ramshorn or twin hook has two hook points side by side rather than one, typically used on larger cranes lifting heavier or wider loads where a single hook point would not distribute the load evenly. Splitting the load across two attachment points also improves stability during the lift. Ramshorn hooks are most often seen on higher-capacity overhead and gantry crane installations rather than smaller workstation systems.
Safety Latches: Why They Matter
A safety latch (sometimes called a hook latch or safety catch) is a spring-loaded or gravity-operated flap that closes across the throat of the hook. Its job is simple but critical: to stop a sling, chain or shackle from slipping out of the hook if the load shifts, the line goes slack, or the hook makes contact with an obstruction during the lift.
Without a functioning latch, a load can become unhooked without any warning, particularly during multi-point lifts or when manoeuvring around obstructions. This is one of the most common findings during a thorough examination, since a latch that is bent, seized or missing will fail an inspection even if the hook body itself is otherwise sound.
BS EN 13889 and What It Covers
BS EN 13889 is the British and European standard covering forged steel lifting hooks with safety latches. It sets requirements for the design, manufacture, dimensions, testing and marking of hooks used in lifting operations, including the minimum breaking load and the safety factor that must be built in above the safe working load of the hook.
In practical terms, a hook manufactured to BS EN 13889 will carry markings for its safe working load, material grade and traceability, all of which a competent person will check as part of a LOLER thorough examination. Deformation, wear at the load-bearing surface, cracking, or any opening of the hook throat beyond the manufacturer’s tolerance are all grounds for taking the hook out of service.
- Check the latch closes fully and returns under its own spring or gravity action
- Check the hook throat has not opened beyond the manufacturer’s stated tolerance
- Check the SWL and traceability markings are still legible
- Look for wear, deformation or cracking at the load-bearing point and shank
How Metreel Can Help
Metreel supplies hooks, hoists, balancers and below-the-hook devices as part of our wider material handling equipment range, alongside inspection and maintenance services that cover the periodic competent-person examinations these components need under LOLER.
If you are specifying new lifting equipment or reviewing what is already on site, whether that is a workstation crane, jib crane or a heavier overhead system, get in touch with Metreel to talk through the right hook, latch and accessory specification for your application.