In my present flat I have no loft, in my last house I turned the loft into a spare bedroom for the grandchildren.
Prior to that had a loft in large family Edwardian house, loft entry over stairs (stupid place), had to poke it open and then place large steps in ladder form to reach up there.
Last time I used it - when I was in my fifties and pretty fit and agile, I slipped on the way down (stupidly wearing slippers), thought I was going to crash back of my head on radiator, managed to twist in air and landed heavily, breaking clavicle!!! Never went up there again.
If you do have a storage type loft, then best to install those covers that when opened, by pulling down, drops down a proper stair type ladder with rail and ensure light in loft.