Lifting and Lowering Tool

A lifting and lowering tool includes a foot configured to be supported on a surface, a bar extending therefrom, and a movable assembly including a housing, a movable platform shaped to support a load that extends from the housing, a lifting actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar away from the foot, a lowering actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar towards the foot, and a release actuator configured to disengage the movable assembly from the bar to allow free movement of the movable assembly along the bar. In embodiments, the movable assembly engages the bar through locking plates that extend through a flange of the movable assembly. In embodiments the release actuator is spaced from the lifting actuator and the lowering actuator to prevent inadvertent actuation of the release actuator. In embodiments a flange of the movable assembly surrounds the bar.