Planks can span up to 24 feet and poles can safely support scaffold platforms to a 50' shoulder working height. It represents a solid investment when you factor in the added level of safety and life-cycle cost. I spied a construction site and stopped to take some photos. He was friendly enough, but no photographs thank you. Step ladders command little respect and as a result cause many injuries.
Most people feel secure using step ladders since they are working at low heights.
A friend who has investigated dozens of ladder accidents claims that he has yet to find a defective step ladder as the cause of injury. Rather he finds that step ladders are misused or used in a broken condition. Step ladders are good products, but it is very easy to get into trouble with them. Workers stretch too far from them, climb too high on them and use them outdoors on soft ground where they can easily tip over. On the other hand, builders respect the potential harm inherent with the misuse of long ladders.