A well-known real-life construction accident that provides important lessons for construction safety is the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Savar, Bangladesh, on 24 April 2013. The disaster is one of the deadliest industrial and construction-related accidents in modern history. The building housed several garment factories and collapsed during working hours, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,100 people and injuries to thousands of others. Although the incident occurred in Bangladesh, it provides valuable lessons for construction safety management in every country, including India. Rana Plaza was an eight-storey commercial building constructed in Savar, near Dhaka. The building was originally designed for commercial purposes, but several garment factories were later established inside it. The structure was subjected to loads and uses that were different from those for which it had originally been designed. Heavy machinery, generators and large numbers of workers were present in the building. These changes increased the load on the structure and created additional safety risks. On 23 April 2013, large cracks were observed in different parts of the building. The cracks were serious enough to cause concern among occupants. An engineer inspected the building and reportedly considered it unsafe. The building was evacuated temporarily. However, the following day, factory workers were instructed to return to work. Heavy generators were also operated in the building. At approximately 8:45 a.m. on 24 April, the building suddenly collapsed. The collapse occurred rapidly, trapping a very large number of workers under concrete slabs, columns and other structural components. The immediate cause of the accident was structural failure. However, the disaster was not caused by one isolated factor. Several technical, managerial, regulatory and human factors contributed to the collapse. The building had reportedly been constructed without adequate compliance with approved structural requirements. Unauthorized additional floors had been added, and the building was being used for industrial activities even though its original design and approval were intended for other purposes. The additional floors and heavy industrial equipment placed excessive loads on the structure. Another major factor was inadequate structural inspection and maintenance. The visible cracks on 23 April were an important warning sign. Cracks in structural elements can indicate serious problems involving excessive loading, foundation movement, material deterioration or structural instability. A proper safety management system should have required immediate evacuation and a detailed structural assessment by qualified professionals. Instead, workers were