Abstract: A control device for an air hoist drives an air motor rotated by an air supply. The air hoist lifts or lowers a load by rotating a chain wheel. When the chain wheel rotates to lower the load, a small amount of air is supplied to the air motor in order to drive it in the normal lifting direction so that the braking force generated by the motor may reduce the load lowering speed and may gradually lower the load utilizing its own weight. Also, a mechanism for restraining the rotation in the normal lifting direction, when the chain wheel is under slow speed control, is actuated to restrain the rotation of the air motor, thereby stopping the chain wheel in a safe and sure manner without using a mechanical brake.