Confined Space Entry Tripod — 3M DBI-SALA 8000140, 7 ft Aluminum (5–7 ft Adjustable)

Confined space entry tripod: the 3M DBI-SALA 8000140 overview

The 3M DBI-SALA 8000140 is a premium confined space entry tripod — a 7 ft lightweight aluminum tripod (adjustable from about 5 to 7 ft) with a rugged steel head assembly, built to be positioned over a manhole, tank, or vault as the anchor for an entry and retrieval system. Its head accepts up to three pulleys, so it can run a working line and a fall-arrest line at the same time, and it carries a 5,000 lb (22 kN) anchor point for a secondary fall-arrest system. It ships with a top pulley, a quick-mount bracket, a safety chain, and safety shoes; quick-release pins let you set it up without tools. For how a tripod fits a full program, see our confined space tripod systems guide and the confined space equipment collection.

Like any bare tripod, the 8000140 is the structure, not the whole system — you add the retrieval hardware your written plan calls for. A man-rated winch handles controlled raising and lowering, and a 3-way retrieval SRL arrests a fall and then cranks over to raise the worker without a second entry. Read the ratings correctly: the 5,000 lb anchor figure is the structural strength of the attachment point, not a lifting or per-person capacity. The wearer side comes from a rated full-body harness — our harness guide covers the dorsal and shoulder D-ring choices for vertical retrieval — and the whole rig sits inside a fall-protection program.

Why the 8000140 anchors a component system

Complete kits bundle a tripod with someone else's winch choice; the 8000140 sells the anchor structure alone so your program picks the retrieval hardware and standardizes it across crews. That's the right order of decisions for districts and plants: one tripod standard, then the man-rated winch and the retrieval SRL your rescue plan actually specifies. And because it's the DBI-SALA platform, it carries the deepest accessory ecosystem — extra tripod pulleys, a mounting base for repeatable fixed-point setups, and the sibling 8000141 tripod. If you'd rather buy it rig-ready, a complete package like the DBI-SALA 8301080 tripod with winch arrives configured, and the lower-cost certified alternative is the MSA Workman tripod.

Pros & cons

Specifications

Related guides

• Best confined space tripod kits
• Best self-retracting lifelines
• Best safety harness
• Best fall-protection kits

Related resources

• DBI-SALA 8301080 tripod with winch
• DBI-SALA retrieval wristlets
• Shop confined space equipment
• Shop full-body harnesses
• Shop gas detectors

Frequently asked questions

What is the 3M DBI-SALA 8000140 tripod?

It's a 7 ft aluminum confined space entry tripod, adjustable from about 5 to 7 ft, with a rugged steel head assembly. It's the anchor structure positioned over a manhole or vault opening — you add the winch, self-retracting lifeline, and harness that your program specifies.

Does it come with a winch or an SRL?

No. The 8000140 is the tripod; it ships with a top pulley, quick-mount bracket, safety chain, and safety shoes, but the man-rated winch and the 3-way retrieval SRL are chosen and bought separately to match your rescue plan.

What does the 5,000 lb anchor point mean?

That's the structural anchor rating (5,000 lb / 22 kN) for a secondary fall-arrest system — the strength of the attachment point, not a lifting or per-person load. Never confuse the anchor rating with how much weight the winch or SRL is rated to raise.

How many pulleys can the head hold?

Up to three. That lets the tripod run more than one line at once — for example a man-rated winch as the working line and a 3-way SRL as the fall-arrest line — which is how rescue-ready vertical entries are rigged.

How tall is it and what openings does it fit?

It's adjustable across roughly a 5 to 7 ft working height with locking legs, which clears typical manhole collars and vault openings. Quick-release pins position the legs and let you set it up without tools.

What's included in the box?

The tripod with adjustable locking legs, a safety chain, safety shoes (feet), a top pulley, and a quick-mount bracket. The winch, SRL, and harness are separate components.

What winch or SRL pairs with it?

A man-rated personnel winch for controlled raising and lowering, plus a 3-way retrieval SRL for fall arrest with crank-over rescue. Match brackets and pulleys within 3M's documented ecosystem rather than improvising cross-brand rigging.

When does OSHA require a tripod retrieval setup?

Under 29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3), retrieval systems are required for permit-space entrants unless they would increase risk or not aid rescue; vertical entries deeper than 5 ft generally call for a mechanical retrieval device positioned over the opening.

Is aluminum strong enough for personnel entry?

Yes — aluminum with a steel head is the standard build for portable entry tripods. It keeps the assembly light enough for one or two workers to carry and set while meeting 3M's published ratings for the configuration you run.

Why buy a bare tripod instead of a complete kit?

Component flexibility: you pick the winch and SRL your written program specifies rather than accepting a kit's bundled choices, and you can standardize one tripod across crews. Kits win on price and speed; components win on standardization and the deepest accessory ecosystem.

What else does a compliant permit entry require?

Atmospheric testing with a calibrated gas monitor, continuous ventilation, an attendant, communication, a written rescue plan, and trained entrants. The tripod anchors the retrieval leg of that program; it does not replace the rest of it.

How does the 8000140 compare to the MSA Workman or the 8000141?

All are certified-brand aluminum head assemblies sold bare. The DBI-SALA 8000140 stands out for its three-pulley head and deep accessory ecosystem (pulleys, mounting bases, brackets); the 8000141 is the sibling configuration, and the MSA Workman is a lower-cost certified alternative.

Reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety. Specifications reflect 3M's published data for the 8000140 and can vary by configuration; confirm load ratings, pulley setup, and standards markings on your specific unit, and follow your written confined-space program before use.