Lab Worker Built Fake PC to Hide Microwave from Management
In a humorous anecdote shared with The Register's 'Who, Me?' column, a former laboratory technician known as 'Ray' devised an ingenious solution to bypass restrictive workplace safety regulations. Ray worked in a research facility repairing nucleonic instruments, where the office sink used for cleaning radioactive equipment was located near the staff microwave and coffee machine. Although there was no actual health risk, management insisted the appliances be moved due to unfounded fears about radiation exposure. To keep the convenience of heating his lunch nearby, Ray created a decoy computer setup. He took a screenshot of his desktop, printed it on A3 paper, and laminated it to simulate a monitor without needing a backlight. He placed this fake screen, along with a keyboard and mouse, in an unused office to satisfy managerial inspections. Meanwhile, he secretly relocated the microwave and coffee machine to a hidden spot. This subterfuge remained undetected for years, with the fake PC and hidden appliances still in use when Ray retired three years prior to the article's publication.
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Lab Worker Built Fake PC to Hide Microwave from Management
In a humorous anecdote shared with The Register's 'Who, Me?' column, a former laboratory technician known as 'Ray' devised an ingenious solution to bypass restrictive workplace safety regulations. Ray worked in a research facility repairing nucleonic instruments, where the office sink used for cleaning radioactive equipment was located near the staff microwave and coffee machine. Although there was no actual health risk, management insisted the appliances be moved due to unfounded fears about radiation exposure. To keep the convenience of heating his lunch nearby, Ray created a decoy computer setup. He took a screenshot of his desktop, printed it on A3 paper, and laminated it to simulate a monitor without needing a backlight. He placed this fake screen, along with a keyboard and mouse, in an unused office to satisfy managerial inspections. Meanwhile, he secretly relocated the microwave and coffee machine to a hidden spot. This subterfuge remained undetected for years, with the fake PC and hidden appliances still in use when Ray retired three years prior to the article's publication.
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