TRSMIMA Confined Space Tripod Kit — 1200 lb Winch, 7 ft Legs, 98 ft Cable, Fall Arrester

TRSMIMA Confined Space Tripod Kit overview

The TRSMIMA Confined Space Tripod Kit bundles the core hardware for vertical confined-space access into one portable package: a foldable aluminum tripod with seven-foot adjustable legs, a 1200 lb winch spooling 98 ft of steel cable, a separate fall arrester, a reflective safety chain, and a carry bag. Positioned over a manhole, well, tank, or sewer opening, it gives you a controlled way to lower a worker in, hold position, and retrieve them — the everyday job of a confined-space entry-and-retrieval rig. If you're assembling a program from scratch, our best fall-protection kits and best self-retracting lifelines guides show where a tripod fits.

Read the numbers correctly, because they describe two different things. The 1200 lb is the winch's rated line pull for raising and lowering — not a personnel figure. The kit's rated capacity for a single person is 330 lb (150 kg). And the winch is not the fall-arrest device: a separate self-retracting lifeline is the component that locks to stop a fall, while the winch handles controlled travel and rescue retrieval. You attach the worker's full-body harness to both, each doing its own job. Because vertical entry also demands atmospheric monitoring, most crews pair the tripod with a 4-gas confined-space meter and review the 4-gas vs single-gas decision first.

Where the kit fits

It's built for vertical, top-opening spaces — manholes, wells, lift stations, storage tanks, and sewers — where a worker is lowered through and retrieved from above. It suits contractors, municipalities, and maintenance crews that need portable, deployable access gear rather than a permanent davit. Where it is not the answer is horizontal-entry spaces a tripod can't straddle, or as a stand-alone safety solution: it is one part of a system that also needs a rated harness, a self-retracting lifeline, atmospheric monitoring from the gas-detector lineup, and a practiced rescue plan. Compare it against premium options in best safety harness and the broader fall-protection range.

Pros & cons

How the kit compares

Specifications

Related guides

• Best fall-protection kits
• Best self-retracting lifelines
• Best safety harness
• Best personal gas detector

Related resources

• Forensics Detectors 4-gas confined-space meter
• 3M DBI-SALA Nano-Lok SRL
• Shop fall protection
• Shop full-body harnesses
• Shop gas detectors

Frequently asked questions

What's included in the TRSMIMA confined space tripod kit?

The kit includes a foldable aluminum tripod with seven-foot adjustable legs, a 1200 lb-capacity winch with 98 ft of steel cable, a separate fall arrester (self-retracting lifeline) rated to about 32.8 ft (10 m), a reflective safety chain, and a carry bag for transport and storage.

Can the 1200 lb rating lift 1200 lb of people?

No. The 1200 lb figure is the winch's rated line pull for raising and lowering, not a personnel figure. The kit's rated capacity for a single person is 330 lb (150 kg). Never load it with more than its rated person capacity, and never lift more than one person at a time.

What is the rated person capacity?

330 lb (150 kg) for a single worker, per the manufacturer. That covers the worker plus their gear within the limit. Confirm the rating on the current product label before use, since equipment specifications can change by production run.

Does the kit include a fall arrester, and is it separate from the winch?

Yes. The winch raises and lowers the worker, while a separate fall arrester (a self-retracting lifeline) is the fall-arrest component that locks if the worker falls. They are two different devices doing two different jobs and should both be attached correctly.

What's the difference between the winch and the fall arrester?

The winch is a controlled raise/lower and retrieval hoist. The fall arrester is a self-locking lifeline that only engages to stop a fall. A confined-space setup typically uses both: the winch for access and rescue retrieval, the fall arrester for fall protection during entry.

How tall and wide does the tripod set up?

It uses seven-foot adjustable aluminum legs that spread for stability on uneven ground, with a working head height in the roughly 4.4 to 7.02 ft range depending on setup. The legs fold for transport and fit in the included carry bag.

Is this kit OSHA or ANSI compliant for confined space work?

The manufacturer markets it for confined-space entry and rescue with a rated person capacity, but you are responsible for verifying that the specific unit's ratings and labeling meet your program's requirements — for example ANSI Z359 for the components and OSHA 1910.146 for permit-required confined spaces. Have a competent person inspect and approve it before use.

Can one person handle a confined-space entry with this?

No. Permit-required confined-space entry needs at least an authorized entrant and an attendant outside, plus a rescue plan and often an entry supervisor. This equipment supports the work; it does not replace the required roles or procedures.

What confined spaces is it designed for?

Vertical-access spaces such as wells, manholes, sewers, storage tanks, underground pipes, and tunnels, where a worker is lowered and retrieved through a top opening. It is not intended for horizontal-entry spaces where a tripod cannot be positioned over the opening.

Do I need a gas detector with this kit?

Yes. Atmospheric testing is mandatory before and during permit-required confined-space entry. A tripod and winch handle access, but they do nothing about the air — pair the kit with a calibrated multi-gas detector and ventilation.

What harness do I use with the tripod kit?

A full-body harness with the appropriate attachment points — typically a dorsal (back) D-ring for fall arrest and, for retrieval, shoulder D-rings. Match the harness and connectors to the winch and fall arrester, and confirm compatibility and ratings before use.

How do I inspect and maintain the kit?

Inspect the legs, head, winch, cable, and fall arrester before each use for damage, corrosion, frayed cable, or malfunction, and remove it from service if anything is questionable. Follow the manufacturer's maintenance and any periodic competent-person inspection your program requires.

Is this a rescue system or a fall-arrest system?

It combines both functions — a retrieval winch for raising and lowering and a fall arrester for fall protection — but owning the hardware is not the same as being ready. You still need a written, practiced rescue plan and trained people to use it safely.

Reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety. Specifications reflect the manufacturer's published listing and can vary by production run; confirm all load ratings, labeling, and standards compliance for your specific unit, and follow your written confined-space program before use.