Crane Hook Assembly used for heavy-lift capacity crane modeled via CATIA . A lifting hook is a device for grabbing and lifting loads by means of a device such as a hoist or crane. A lifting hook is usually equipped with a safety latch to prevent the disengagement of the lifting wire rope sling, chain or rope to which the load is attached. A hook may have one or more built-in pulley sheaves as a block and tackle to multiply the lifting force.