Why should you avoid overloading a hook?

Overloading a hook poses significant safety risks, primarily because it can cause deformation or failure of the hook, which could lead to serious accidents. Hooks are designed with specific load capacities, and exceeding these limits compromises their structural integrity. If a hook fails while under load, it can result in the load dropping unexpectedly, potentially causing injury to personnel nearby, damaging equipment, or damaging the load itself. Ensuring that hooks are not overloaded is essential to maintaining a safe working environment and preventing catastrophic failures during lifting operations.