A system is provided for safe access to a roof through an opening in a roof of a structure having a fixed ladder leading upward to the opening. The system includes a mechanism to drive a set of pushrods to raise a hatch covering the opening. The system may include a section of ladder secured to the underside of the hatch. The system may have an extendable ladder driven by the drive mechanism to slide along the fixed ladder and extend through the opening in the roof when the hatch is raised. The system may include a safety pole driven by the drive mechanism to extend through the opening in the roof when the hatch is raised. The system allows someone who needs to access the roof for inspection or maintenance to safely open the hatch, climb up through the opening in the roof, and safely step onto the roof.