Yes, lathe IS a dangerous tool, if misused ..... ok, ok, as any other tools, but lathe have, how can i say it, more occasions to hurt you than a drill, as example.
Tools can snap and become projected around, same as metal chips (for this there is a protection
), the piece can loose if not fixed good, and damage all the rest if you're working at high speed, lack of attention and care can put at risk your face, fingers and eyes, and so on.
Also small ones, yes, after all, remember that if it have enough energy for cut metal, your fingers are not a problem for it
.
I worked for some years in a mechanical factory too, and seen enough accidents, mainly from misuse and lack of care, but also someone just due to casual facts ..... as example, one of the more common errors that lathe newbies (no offense intended) sometimes do, is forgot to take away the T-key that you use for close the "jaws", before turn it on at high speed ..... sometimes, it just break the key or the protection, but sometimes it can be throwed against you, and it's not a funny thing ..... one time, one of our mechanics done this error on a BIG lathe (100 cm jaws holder), and the key flied away like a bullet, and punched a hole in the door of the tools holder, that was made in steel
Never careless play with any tool, and especially with lathe and mill machines