Where should blame lie?

[financelady]

Scenario: an engineer is called to a job. 2 repairs required. 1 cannot be done as parts not available. The other repair is carried out - but unknowingly the engineer uses the wrong type of material. He signs the job off INCOMPLETE as there is still work to be done.
Next person comes along, wants to use equipment, decides to sign job off as COMPLETE.
Next person tests the equipment, using water. Leak occurs but due to lack of staff does not relate problems (leak).
Next person runs the equipment with substances. Leak occurs. Due to lack of staff - delay in shutting equipment down to stop leak.
Who is to blame for this incident?

Depends which one of them broke standard operating procedures

@TomHardyAndMe - please can you explain a little more?

Presumably there is an order in which repairs are done. So eg for a water leak on a sink:

1. Shut off water
2. Check seals and joins
3. Replace and tighten seals
4. Water back on
5. Test for leaks

If someone does 1-3 but doesn’t tighten everything up fully and person 2 assumes it’s fine and turns the water on, who is responsible?

All of them.

1 - used the wrong type of material
2 - incorrectly signed off as complete
3 - didn’t relate leak
4 - delay in shutting down equipment

More context would be helpful. Are you trying to identify someone to claim against? Are you managing the engineers?

Did person 2 just sign things off, or did they complete the work required, and carry out all testing to recommission the equipment?

And is it 2 people (first engineer and Next) or 4 people, with each next being a new person?

Did the person who changed it from "Incomplete" to "Complete" have the authority to do so or not? Was this an engineer or not?
If not, why did they do it?
Or did they just do this as it was more personally convenient for them at the time?
If so, I think they are culpable as they set off the chain of events when they should have left the equipment well alone.

The first three people were all incompetent.

Did person 1 explain why it was incomplete? Did person 2 ask or check the reason for incomplete sign off? Did person 2 check all work? Did person 2 check what original fault was?