One horrible thing (as if having your skull crushed like a grape isn't bad enough) about dying like this poor guy did is the fact that he may have had a few seconds to think about what was going to happen to him...
He was standing in front of the machine with the work at about the level of his belly. Something on his apron/shop coat got caught up in the work and it started peeling off, dragging him down and into it. When it got to his chin.... Well, use your imagination as to the contortions his head and upper body went through as it went under. I wouldn't care to hear the sound, let alone see it.
For this man's sake, I hope the machine was running at very high speed. Imagine being alone in your garage, threading a bar at 60 RPM and not being able to stop it, then having your Wife or kid find you. Hopefully you'll be long since dead when they come in and stop the spindle if it's past the point you can be helped.
A few lathe safety tips:
1. Never wear gloves, rings, bracelet or watch.
2. Wear short sleeves and tight-fitting clothing with nothing (rags, tools etc.) hanging out of the pockets. Tuck shirt in. Tie back long hair.
3. Never use a rag to clean a turning workpiece.
4. Never reach over the rotating chuck. If you have to file the workpiece close to the chuck, do it left-handed.
5. Never take your hand off of the chuck key when it's in the chuck.
6. Don't engage in conversation with anyone while manually operating the machine.
7. When turning between centers, make sure that the carriage never contacts the tailstock.
8. Before turning the spindle on, put it in neutral and turn it one revolution by hand to make sure that everything turning clears everything attached to the carriage.
9. Be aware that the chuck jaws become nearly invisible at high RPM.
10. Practice using the emergency stop/brake until it becomes second nature (also goes for feed control handle positions).
11. If something comes loose while the machine is running, get away from it! Yell to others in the area to do the same.
12. Hold the workpiece deep enough into the jaws so that it can't come loose. Use a center in the tailstock whenever possible on lightly secured or long work.
13. Be sure that all machine accessories (lights, coolant lines, safety sheilds, etc.) are secured so they can't be caught up in the spindle.
14. Have enough light on the entire work area.
15. Don't allow an air line or electrical cord near the spindle.
16. Set the spindle to the lowest RPM practical for the work.
17. Don't set anything on the ways or carriage during operation. If something is set on the headstock, make sure it can't fall onto the chuck.
18. Don't release a part from a collet setup into your hand while the spindle is turning.
19. Don't index a turret or toolholder too close to the chuck.
20. Don't use a strip of emery in both hands around the work in a 'shoe shine' hold. Don't polish an inside diameter using your finger; use abrasive on a dowel.
21. Don't run an off-center, heavy workpiece (4 jaw, faceplate, etc.) at high RPM.
22. Double check the mouting of the chuck (especially cam-locked ones!) before turning on the spindle. Don't assume that the other guy mounted it properly.
23. Avoid producing long, stringy chips whenever possible, and never remove them with your hands. Don't allow a "bird's nest" of turnings to accumulate on the chuck/workpiece.
24. Don't extend cutting tools out of their holders longer than necessary, and secure them with enough screws (2 minimum) so that they can't come loose.
One thing to remember when operating any machinery is to stop what you're doing if something doesn't seem right. Trust your gut; it's often a good indicator.
Did I forget anything?
