Why Engineering Safety Fails to See Commissioning

Abstract

Engineering safety research traditionally frames the project lifecycle as a sequence of design, construction, and operations. This framing omits commissioning—the phase where system assumptions first meet system behaviour. Commissioning is the activation point for latent design, integration, and interface risks that remain invisible during earlier stages. Yet it is almost absent from safety science, risk modelling, and organisational reliability research. This paper argues that commissioning should be treated as a distinct, study-worthy phase with its own risk profile, behavioural dynamics, and lifecycle implications. Recognising commissioning as a socio-technical environment, rather than a technical milestone, is essential for improving system readiness, reducing early‑life failures, and strengthening lifecycle reliability.