Sheesh...Got a sobering reminder today that even with 25 years' casting experience it's still possible to make dumb mistakes.
I took about a 3-year break from casting and reloading due to time constraints because of our son being born, changing jobs, and moving. This past week I built my new bench, dug out my presses and got everything set up. I just needed to cast a little bit. My normal setup (Lee Production Pot with PID-controlled power supply, folding chair and sturdy wood table) was still in storage but I had a Palmer hot-pot (handheld and holds 2 lbs of alloy) and plastic adirondack chair handy with a makeshift table and set up on the front porch.
At least I had on proper PPE...Leather boots, jeans, long-sleeved cotton shirt, leather gloves and safety glasses. Anyway, while casting some .45 RN I had to refill the casting pot which empties fast with the big boolits. Once it was melted and up to temp I sat down, picked it up, shifted my weight...and one of the plastic chair legs splayed out to the side and let go. They say God takes care of drunks and fools...I ended up on the ground in a sitting position, but somehow didn't spill any lead out of the pot and everything was fine other than the adrenaline rush. I took a minute to collect myself, unplugged the pot and called it a day. It could have and should have turned out much worse.