PURPOSE: To automatically detect the attitude abnormality of a handling device and a basket occurring during the operation by providing handling device attitude detecting sensors and basket attitude detecting sensors on a lifting/lowering device suspending the handling device with flexible hoisting accessories such as chains or wires.

CONSTITUTION: A lifting/lowering device 10 mounted on a traveling device 2 traveled on rails l rotates chain pulleys 14 via reduction gears 12 with the drive of a driving lift motor 11 and lifts or lowers a handling device 20 suspended via four chains 15. The handling device 20 suspends a basket 60 storing articles 71 with hooks 24 provided on the right and left. Four handling device attitude detecting sensors (proximity switches) 40 are provided on the base plate 21 of the handling device 20, and four basket attitude detecting sensors cooperating with detecting bars contactable with horizontal bars suspended with the hooks 24 of the basket 60 are provided. The attitude abnormality is detected from the outputs of these attitude detecting sensors.