Today, we often look at electrical workers as laborers, specialists, perhaps people with dangerous jobs. But, when we were young, they cut an altogether more powerful figure, perhaps something close to superheroes.

Ground crew prepare the construction of a machine that will help them to draw in the wire

In Foshan (佛山), Guangdong Province, an electrical construction team has been working on a months-long project to extend transmission lines in the city. Old pylons needed to be replaced by new ones both for safety and efficiency, and the work itself takes place at a height of more than 40 meters.

A heavy roll of wire is moved to the site for the workers to use in their repairs

The team responsible for this type of undertaking isn’t just on the high wire with the high-altitude-operation technicians; crews of over 30 people work together in tandem, including ground crew support staff. Provisional members are added as needed and, although these particular team members are all from Hubei Province, their work takes them around the country.

Specialized high-altitude-operation technicians draw wires to the pylons

These laborers sometimes work under extremely difficult circumstances, not the least of which is the heat, which can rise to over 35 degrees Celsius in Foshan’s summer. To make matters worse, workers must wear standard-issue insulation uniforms for safety, leading to things like heat stroke and dehydration, which, even on the ground, are dangerous hazards. They begin work early in the morning, rest at midday to avoid the worst of the sun, and then work late into the evening.

This particular project takes place at a height of more than 40 meters

Occasionally, they need to act as an emergency response team; day or night, they may be ordered to rush to the scene of a problem. They work public holidays, including Spring Festival, and while the rest of the country sits down with their family for a meal, these workers climb the on the high wires to keep the country’s grid together.

As they deal with dangerous and crucial work, the technicians on the high-wire all need to be well trained and educated

However, despite the harsh weather conditions, long and irregular work hours, and danger, these workers have, in the past, come under public criticism for their relatively high salaries. Many don’t think that they deserve such a compensation for what amounts to a manual laborer’s position. In actuality, many of these workers hold a bachelor’s degree and sometimes even a master’s, and the high-altitude-operation technicians need to obtain certain qualification certificates in addition to their education.

Ground crew look after their coworkers as they brave the heights, the heat, and the dangerous nature of the job

Not everyone has the opportunity to witness the hardships these workers endure. You might not be able to see their achievements in fat bank accounts or fancy cars, but when you see the blaze of lights at night in both rural and urban areas, it’s not difficult to imagine their silhouettes on those sky-high power lines, perhaps once again amounting to that superhero image we once had of them as children.

Temperatures in this part of the world reach 30 degrees celcius, and it’s worse inside the safety suits

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“Sparks in the Sky” is a story from our latest issue, “Startup Kingdom”. To continue reading, become a subscriber and receive the full magazine. Alternatively, you can purchase the digital version from the iTunes Store.