Abstract
This study investigated the working hours, work-life balance and mental health of 100 construction workers in a place without Standard Working Hour legislation, Hong Kong, using a questionnaire survey. Results showed these participants had longer working hours (54 hours/week) than many other workers in Hong Kong and in many other places. However, the results did not show the work-life balance was as poor as another long working hour industry in Hong Kong, public doctors. The mental health condition (mean GHQ score 9.66) was not shown to be poor. There existed some associations among long working hours, poor work-life balance and poor mental health condition. To conclude, construction workers in Hong Kong, without Standard Working Hour legislation, had long working hours but there was insufficient evidence to show they have poor work-life balance and poor mental health. There was insufficient evidence to show the high risk of occupational injuries was related to poor work-life balance and poor mental health.
Highlights
There exists some evidence of a relation between long working hours and an increased risk of occupational injuries among construction workers [1]
Construction workers had a longer working hour than other professions in Hong Kong and much longer working hour than other places with standard working hour legislation. They were not having the longest working hours, as a similar work-life balance study in Hong Kong working on another profession with long working hours, public doctors showed that the average work hour per week of public doctors was 57 hours [17]
There existed some associations among working hours, work-life balance and mental health on construction workers in Hong Kong
Summary
There exists some evidence of a relation between long working hours and an increased risk of occupational injuries among construction workers [1]. Long working hours indirectly precipitate workplace accidents by inducing fatigue or stress in affected workers [2]. Long working hours result in a poor work-life balance, with ill effects such as an unwilling to work, a great likelihood of changing jobs, disharmony, lack of exercise, stress, poor diet, exhaustion, insomnia, depression and health problems (e.g., cancer) [3]. A balance is achieved when an individual’s right to a fulfilled life inside and outside paid work is accepted and respected as the norm, to the mutual benefit of the individual, business and society [4]. Several cross-sectional studies have shown an association between long working hours and mental ill health and fatigue symptoms [5]
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