Jump or get electrified
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381906)
Rockingham, Australia
February 19, 2026 8:36pm CST
The photo has nothing to do with the discussion.
The Australian Broadcasting Commission’s (ABC) three radio stations are switching from Am to FM. I don’t understand much about it but it will supposedly give a better quality sound, among other things, especially in the city. What is interesting is the story a retired former radio technician told about his time working on the transmitter.
While still a trainee, Trevor Kelly and his fellow trainees were given permission to climb the mast. They were warned that they had to jump onto the tower. If they touched the ground and the mast at the same time, they’d be ‘electrified’; the term used at the time. Again, to get off the mast, they had to jump so they didn’t touch the tower and the ground at the same time.
I think today’s Health and Safety officers would have something to say about such a practice today.
19 people like this
16 responses
Poor guys!@DaddyEvil (174306)
• United States
20 Feb
@JudyEv Yeah, true. The headlines might have read "Crispy fried guys at the radio station!" 
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122105)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
20 Feb
It would scare me having to jump and get electrized touching the ground and mast at the same time.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381906)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb
Looking back now, it seems a really stupid thing to tell the guys to do. What about the clumsy one that would miss his footing or whatever?
@FourWalls (86615)
• United States
20 Feb
FM (frequency modulation) does have better sound, but the signal doesn’t travel as far as AM. I grew up listening to AM stations hundreds of miles away. I still have Nashville (170 miles away) and Cincinnati (100 miles away) radio stations programmed in my car radio.
Don’t think the safety administration would allow that procedure of jumping these days!
3 people like this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Feb
Is that a mushroom?
Electricity is scary stuff. Jumping? Ugh! I suppose they didn't get hazard pay either.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb
@JudyEv ......It looks pretty dramatic.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381906)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Feb
@celticeagle There are dozens of different fungi. Some are pretty; others are pretty ugly.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb
I guess being warned about being electrified is better than finding out the hard way!
In today's world of safety and regulation, I'm sure this practice would not be allowed, although there would still be someone out there who would do it just for the thrills.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Feb
@JudyEv At least they provided instructions/directions for avoiding the risks!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
20 Feb
That sounds so dangerous. Love the mushrooms or fungi.
1 person likes this
