To prevent a worker from dropping from a protection device 19 serving also as a walking passage for maintenance and inspection of an overhead conveyor 1.

This protection device 19 for the overhead conveyor is provided with a beltlike horizontal member 20 for protection serving also as the walking passage for maintenance and inspection below a running passage of a running body 3 for conveyance of the overhead conveyor in which an elevating means 12 for lifting and lowering the running body 3 for conveyance is arranged in the running passage of the running body 3 for conveyance by dividing it into pieces by an elevation passage of the running body 3 for conveyance by the elevating means 12. A part between an end 20a adjacent to the elevation passage of the beltlike horizontal member 20 for protection and a position 20b in front of it by a proper distance is inclined in such a way that an elevation passage side is lowered, and a drop prevention measure 23 such as a fence is provided at a lower end of this inclined region 20c.