An emergency escape openable skylight is provided with a resiliently biased openable cover with at least a substantial portion of the openable cover being constructed of a transparent material. The skylight is provided with a retractable ladder. The retractable ladder may be a pully operated flexible ladder, a rigid foldable ladder, or any other suitable retractable ladder. The cover is normally held closed by a latch means, but is self-opening or substantially self-opening upon release of the latch by reason of the resilient biasing means.