I tried to fix a printer jam with a butter knife and the fire alarm went off

Our office printer in the break room has been acting up for weeks. Yesterday it jammed again, and I got tired of waiting for IT. I saw a video online about using something flat to clear the rollers, so I grabbed a plastic butter knife from the kitchen. I wedged it in there, and it sparked. Not a big spark, but enough to set off the smoke detector right above it. The whole floor had to evacuate for 20 minutes. My boss just asked for 'a full report' on what happened. Has anyone else caused a minor office disaster trying to be helpful?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ben3mo ago

My old boss banned office DIY after I fried a microwave with a paperclip.

hugos673mo ago

But what did you expect to happen with a paperclip in a microwave? Honestly, that sounds like a pretty clear safety issue, and the boss was right to shut it down. It's not just about the one microwave, it's about preventing a real fire or someone getting hurt. Sometimes rules exist because people do things without thinking them through. A total ban might be the only way to keep things safe for everyone.

wren_thomas1620d ago

Always thought people overreacted to stuff like this. Until I melted a spatula in the work toaster trying to retrieve a bagel. Whole break room smelled like burning plastic for a week. Boss didn't ban toaster use but put up a sign about proper tools. Made me realize how fast small dumb decisions go sideways. Now I'm the one who stops people from jamming random stuff in the microwave. Sometimes you gotta learn the hard way that rules exist for a reason.