I know the guys who sat on that committee. Talked to both Steve and his son Mark, about this specific issue of gate latch strength being of paramount concern to this industry specifically.
Just because your bloody crane has non rotating wire rope doesn't mean that others don't by any stretch of the imagination.
They both have the same or better hands on experience performing crane assisted removals that I do. Know exactly what I mean when snugging up the load causes the crane ball to spin like a weed eater, that being tied in above that spinning ball, subjects your body line to unnecessary abrasive wear n tear.
That Shur-loc positive locking hook is perfect as long as you use one rated locking clevis for your rigging, and a second locking clevis, or solid oval for climber tie in exclusively. That way you can snug that choker up like a pro, double check that it's solid secure and not going to slip, then bail down tie in and pull your bodyline from the crane hook's climber tie in clevis/oval. It ensures your body line can't be damaged by rigging hardware, while letting you take full advantage of the swiveling hook to ensure no tangling or undue wear can happen.
The Shur-Loc hook is the only hook perfect for the tree biz simply by virtue of that gate latch itself being rated strong enough to support the whole crane ball assemblies weight when it inevitably gets upended punching through a canopy, over a climber.
None of your puny spring latches are suitable for use in this industry, and yu know it.
jomoco
