whirrwork

The Ladder Test, as a tool

Robot or ladder?

Six questions, about a minute. You get a plain verdict with the reasons, plus the job's sourced prices and suppliers. Sometimes the answer is the ladder.

The verdict

It could go either way. Get one quote of each.

Your answers don't point clearly one way. One quote from a person and one from a robot service will settle it faster than more thinking.

PersonRobot

Points to a robot

  • A person with a ladder can't do it safely in an afternoon.

Points to a person

Nothing on this side.

You answered 1 of 6 questions. Answer the rest for a firmer verdict.

Next steps

To share this verdict, copy the page address. Your answers are in it.

Change your answers

  1. Could one competent person with a ladder or hand tools do it safely in an afternoon?

    Be honest. Most small jobs pass this one.

  2. Would a person have to work at height, near live equipment, over water or in a confined space?

    Steep roofs, towers, wind turbines, tanks, high-voltage gear.

  3. Is it big?

    Many acres or hectares, a large floor, a tall facade, kilometres of line, thousands of items.

  4. Does it repeat on a schedule?

    Every night, every week, every season.

  5. Do you need a measured record?

    Photos you will compare over time, a 3D model, thermal images or a survey.

  6. Does it need hands?

    Repairs, lifting, judgement by touch, or talking to people.

Start again

Your answers stay in the page address. Nothing is stored and nothing is sent to anyone.

How the verdict works

No AI and no guessing. Each answer adds points to the robot side or the person side, and the verdict comes from the difference. The ladder question counts double for the person, and height or danger counts double for the robot. If the robot side leads by 2 or more and the job needs hands, the answer is both. 'Not sure' adds nothing. The rules come from our guide, which has worked examples with sourced prices.

QuestionRobot pointsPerson points
1. Could one competent person with a ladder or hand tools do it safely in an afternoon?No: +1Yes: +2
2. Would a person have to work at height, near live equipment, over water or in a confined space?Yes: +2–
3. Is it big?Yes: +1–
4. Does it repeat on a schedule?Yes: +1–
5. Do you need a measured record?Yes: +1–
6. Does it need hands?–Yes: +1

Read the guide: Do you need a robot, or a guy with a ladder?

Put the Ladder Test on your site A small card, free, no cookies or scripts. It opens this tool. 
<iframe src="https://whirrwork.com/embed/tool/robot-or-ladder/" width="100%" height="300" style="border:0;max-width:520px" loading="lazy" title="Robot or ladder? The Ladder Test (Whirrwork)"></iframe>

For AI agents: the same verdict as JSON. GET /api/v1/robot-or-ladder?ladder=no&risk=yes&job=roof-inspection-drone