On the surface, the concepts of consent and accountability seem like they would have nothing to do with the construction industry. But when one looks at the specifics, rather than the generalities, there are a number of parallels that can be drawn between the legal standards and requirements in Oklahoma (and other states) and those in the construction industry.
In construction, as in the law, it is important that all parties involved are involved in the decision-making process. This means that contracts should be agreed to by all parties, and the specifications and blueprints should be understood by everybody involved. Otherwise, you could end up in a situation where people hold different expectations about the result of the project and want to put the blame on somebody else, even if they had some responsibility in the decision-making process.
Here’s an example of how both sides could be problematic: say, for example, you have a contract for the building of a new home. In the contract, the homeowner states that he or she wants new kitchen cabinets, and the builder agrees to provide them. The owner signs off on this, but when the house is completed, they are not satisfied with the cabinets and accuse the builder of wrongful business practices. Taken further, maybe the homeowner made a change to the plans that would not allow for cabinets of that size, and the builder didn’t realize this until the house was completed.
In situations like these, both the builder and the homeowner may share some blame. The builder, in entering with a contact with the owners, should have forced them to be more specific in their request about cabinet size. Both parties should have reviewed the plans completed and signed off on them. By failing to do so, both could be considered negligent and held accountable by law.
In Oklahoma (as well as other states), what is the legal age of consent in oklahoma? The legal age of consent is 16 years old, and the age that an individual can marry is 18. Having a legal age of consent is necessary so that people cannot take advantage of other innocent individuals, which is why consent forms are required to protect both parties.
As an example, if an employer in Oklahoma wanted to offer a 16 year old an internship, they may have to have them sign a consent form from their parent, or get the parent involved in the process. However, by 18 years old the individual is considered an adult by law, so no such document is required.
In construction, the legal age of consent requirement can be extended in a positive way. In Oklahoma, the age groups basically go as follows:
This is where an analogy can be drawn to the construction industry. Most likely, a contractor will not be able to accept contracts from minor-aged individuals, but there are some instances where doing so could be legal: if a parent or legal guardian were to sign on behalf of a minor and consent to the completion of a written contract, then that could be considered an acceptable practice.
In summary, accountability is important both legally and in the construction industry so that people are not taken advantage of, legally and financially.
For more information on legal age of consent laws, you can visit Wikipedia.