A winch assembly for the displacement of a person between a first vertical position and a second vertical position comprising: a winch for displacing a person in a harness between said first and second vertical positions; a first winch attachment means for realizably engaging said harness, said first winch attachment means being attached to said winch for the displacement of a person between said first and second vertical positions; and a second winch attachment means for realizably attaching the winch to an overhead support, the improvement wherein said first attachment means comprises two opposed support arms and displacement means associated with each said support arms whereby at least part of each arms is displaceable between a working extended position for engaging said harness and a non-working retracted position. The winch has a reduced or more compact aspect during non-working periods as well as in the case of a moving of the winch assembly during non-working periods.