band 5 a and the lateral surface of the lifting drum 2 in order to prevent the first turn of the steel band 5 a and hence to a certain extent also the further turns lying thereabove of both steel bands 5 a 5 b from being pressed into the clearance 7 and thereby bent at the step formed by the ends 6 a 6 b a total of three spacer elements 8 a 8 b and 8 c in the form of metal sheets 8 a 8 b and 8 c curved in the shape of circular arcs are arranged in this empty space 7 each of these metal sheets 8 a 8 b and 8 c has a constant thickness the thickness of the metal sheets 8 a 8 b 8 c increases however in the clockwise direction towards the step formed by the ends 6 a 6 b generally the direction in which the thickness of the spacer elements 8 a 8 b 8 c is to increase is opposite that direction in which the lifting drum 2 rotates on lifting the load the spacer elements 8 a 8 b 8 c thereby form bearing surfaces for the first turn of the steel band 5 a preventing this turn from u201c caving in u201d too deeply radially inwards it is thus not absolutely necessary for the thickness of the spacer elements 8 a 8 b 8 c to increase continuously in the stated direction so as to exactly fill up the empty space 7 formed geometrically nor do the spacer.