Abstract: An improved hoisting device, such as a hook, shackle, ring, link, or the like, includes indicia for determining deformation damage to the device from overstressing. The indicia includes components which assume a predetermined geometrical configuration, such as a line segment co-linearly aligned with another line segment or dot, as the device is in an unstressed and undeformed state, and which do not assume the predetermined configuration if the device have been damaged from over-stressing. The indicia also includes cooperating components for dynamically indicating the magnitude of stressing relative to the maximum design stress of the device. The indicia is adapted for both close proximity and remote stressing determinations.