Is the section below the one you're citing for the reason you're requiring a handrail be installed?
I read it as such, as it applies to our pumping pit.
454.1.5.4 Ventilation.
Equipment rooms (This is not a room.) shall have either forced draft or cross ventilation. All below-grade equipment rooms (Again...not a room.) shall have a stairway access with forced draft ventilation or a fully louvered door and powered intake within 6 inches (152 mm) of the floor. Where stairway access is not necessary to carry heavy items (I would concur, no heavy items would be taken in or out of the pit. That would include chemical jugs, as those cannot be stored in the pit.) into the below grade room or vault (I don't believe this technically is a vault, but it sure isn't a room.), a “ship's ladder” may be used ("May", not "shall.") if specified ("If", not "must.") by the design engineer (The "Engineer", not the "D.O.H.") who must consider anticipated workload including equipment removal; and the ladder slope, tread height and width; and construction material of the ladder.
If this is not the section you're citing, can you please provide a code citation that specifically applies to your stipulation we install a handrail?
If it is this section, can you please explain how you're interpreting that a handrail is required?