The invention relates to the field of machines, in particular to an elevator. An elevator with a human body detection and protection function comprises an elevator body. The elevator body comprises an ascending and descending button controlling an elevator ascending and descending circuit and a car roof. A maintenance personnel work area is arranged above the car roof, and a light curtain system detecting human bodies surrounds the maintenance personnel work area. The light curtain system comprises at least two light transmitting pipes and at least two light receiving pipes. The light transmitting direction of the light transmitting pipes faces the light receiving pipes, and then the light curtain system is formed. The light transmitting pipes and the light receiving pipes are all connected with a signal processing module. The signal processing module is connected with a trigger switch connected into the elevator ascending and descending circuit in series. According to the elevator, no matter which situation elevator maintenance personnel are in, as long as the bodies of the maintenance personnel exceed the boundary range set by the light curtain system, the elevator ascending and descending circuit can be cut out after starting, the stopped elevator cannot be started, the running elevator is immediately stopped, and the function of protecting the maintenance personnel is achieved.