How can I make a reading nook out of an attic crawlspace?

In my house, we don't have an attic, but we do have a relatively small crawlspace. We can access it through a ceiling hatch in my closet. The hatch is about 2 feet by 2 feet. You need a ladder to get up there. My dad sometimes goes up there to stop leaks and such, but he has to be careful, because the crossbeams are the only places that support his weight [but they're not designed to support humans]. In the spaces between them are sheetrock, and if he stepped there, it would break through the ceiling. I'm not allowed up there because of that. Plus, the air up there is very dusty, and we wouldn't be able to cover all the insulation up there, so my dad needs to wear a dust mask. However, I want to make some sort of reading nook. Is there any way to put panels over the sheetrock to support a human's weight, or install some sort of air filter that eliminates the need for a dust mask? Also, what would be an easy and safe way to get in and out of there that doesn't take up a lot of space?