Assessment of the effects of LICIT and ILLICIT drug use on Sri Lankan construction labour productivity

Abstract

It is assumed that licit and illicit drugs are commonly used by construction workers. The risk profile for alcohol and drugs on construction sites varies, from catastrophic accidents that result in severe injury or death to minor incidents. An investigation of the impacts of substance misuse among construction workers was carried out in Sri Lanka, which served as the basis for this study. Information was gathered about the issues that lead to substance abuse among construction workers, and qualitative and quantitative research method was used. According to the study's findings, many construction workers do not use drugs or alcohol to cope with the financial crisis. Additionally, these issues affect the workers' families, generating a setting that encourages the "vicious cycle." The research findings highlight the significance of eliminating substance abuse in the construction industry due to the socioeconomic impact it has on construction workers and the industry as a whole in Sri Lanka. The management of safety measures as well as the views, attitudes, and conduct of construction workers were the main subjects of this study. By dissecting its conclusions, this study shows that the major construction firms in Sri Lanka that were taken into account have a high level of risk awareness and perceive health and safety as critical issues, notably the effects of legal and illicit substances on productivity. This study aimed to understand the data collected and create a question-and-answer survey based on it. This study examines and compiles quantitative data on productivity in the construction sector to give the first systematic examination of the economic effects of drug usage in Sri Lanka. As a result, policymakers will better understand the current condition and the problem’s severity. Productivity loss is one of the consequences of drug abuse. Costs of healthcare, crime, institutionalization, and incarceration, as well as the cost and loss of welfare. Many of these costs must be borne by the industry, which has an adverse effect. Externalities are borne by society as well. Due to Sri Lanka's continued development, it is essential to calculate the economic cost of drug misuse in order to assess the severity of the issue and how it affects the nation. The value of resources lost as a result of a specific illness is referred to as the direct cost. According to this study, the total cost of drug abuse for institutionalized people includes direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and lost productivity due to drug abuse. According to the study, Sri Lanka project management is experiencing a micro- and macroeconomic crisis, as is the construction industry, and as a result, the use of expensive drugs and alcoholic beverages is very low, with some inexpensive substances such as smoking beedi and bit betel being used. In terms of productivity loss, it is estimated to be very minor. Keywords: Project Management, Construction Workers, Productivity, Drug Abuse, Substances