Disclosed is a new sling bar (2602) for use with an overhead lift system to lift a load suspended in a lift sling there below. The sling bar (2602) comprises a downward curved cross bar (2604) having first and second opposite ends, a central lift connector (2616) centered along the length of the cross bar (2604) and configured to couple with the overhead lift system, a lift hook (2607) disposed at each of the first and second ends of the cross bar (2604), and a spring loaded latch (2673) hingedly connected at each end of the cross bar (2604), wherein each spring loaded latch (2673) is biased to clamp downward onto a tip section (2682) of a point portion of the lift hook (2607) and close off a hook opening defined between a blunt end point of the lift hook (2607) and either the cross bar (2604) or a shank portion of the lift hook (2607).
