A low-profile manual or motorised lifting apparatus (10) for hoisting and moving objects along an I-beam (12). First and second drive rollers (48 and 49) are operatively connected to one another and mounted to the frame assembly (20) on opposite sides of the beam web (14) to support and smoothly drive the frame assembly (20) over seams and irregularities in the lower flange (16), A block assembly (80) is suspended beneath the frame assembly (20) by a load chain (94) passing through two pulley wheels (86) rotatably mounted on the block (82) to rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the I-beam (12) to stabilise the block and permit raising of the block assembly (80) to a maximum vertical height. C-shaped guide plates (26) and rotatable guide rollers (28) restrict vertical and lateral movement of the frame assembly (20) on the I-beam (12). Control 104 panel is suspended by cable 106. Counterweights 32 are provided. <IMAGE>
