Fire escape (only entrance) rusting!!

[molinari]

Hello, I wonder if anyone can help. My flat is accessed by an external steel staircase, which is in need of some refurbishment. It's starting to rust and the paints peeling. I've tried to find some body to look at it but builders don't seem to want to know and I can't think who else might. Any ideas where I could start looking or how I might tackle it myself? It obviously wasn't galvanised to start with. Does it need shot blasting, is this even possible on a fire escape or can I just paint over it. Thanks in advance.