Very easily, make sure there is/are NO splits in the wood and slow down the lathe speed, high speed is the danger that time and again strikes out and causes havoc even killing turners.
It seems to be hard for turners to take a good look before starting an a piece of wood
Here is a picture of a piece of wood that had pieces splitting off of it 3 times, and the turner was lucky to not get that against his noggin or he might not be turning still, you better have a close look at the wood you want to turn and not just go at it.
3 times from the same piece.jpg
Lynne Yamaguchi got nearly killed for the same reason, here is the picture of the piece that split off, where you can clearly see where the wood had a split and another one in there also.
The split wood that nearly killed.jpg