Back in the olden days engineering departments would build an official looking device called a "Fuse Tester". It had two prongs to fit in an outlet, an indicator light (which did nothing) and a hefty push button labeled "TEST". You just left it lying around and soon testing would begin.

Once the breaker that "mysteriously failed" was reset, the person who had operated the device would inevitably plant it in some other area for someone else to try. This could go on for days.

Of course, if you have to do it yourself, it's pretty easy to create a defective desk lamp where frayed wires touch when you "adjust" its position.