Certain professions require their employees to climb ladders all the time. The employees who do it have hopefully received training in safe ladder use, and their employers hopefully ensure the ladders are in a suitable condition.
Yet many workplaces that do not require employees to climb ladders do occasionally ask someone to climb a stepladder.
Infrequent use may be more hazardous
An employer might ask an employee to take out the stepladder for a host of reasons. It might be to hang or take down flags or decorations. It could be to change a lightbulb. Or maybe it is just to reach a file stashed on a high shelf.
The employee might not have received any training in safe stepladder use. They might not realize they need any, as the stepladder appears far less dangerous to them than a full-size ladder and the task might only take them a few minutes. Even if they are a little hesitant, they might feel stupid refusing, as they won’t be more than a few feet off the ground. The ladder might also be in poor condition as no one has looked at it since it was last used months ago. Both these factors could make a fall more likely.
You do not need to fall far to suffer a serious injury. It is all about how and where you land.
No employer can force you to climb a stepladder, and they should ensure you have proper training if they want you to do so. If you end up injured, learning how to claim workers’ compensation will be essential.