I feel lipos can be handled very safe if you follow basic rules.
Just like not smoking around gas. I'm going to work on a lipo safety sheet for my club and will post it her once I have it done.

I've used nothing but lipos (small 2s 1100 to huge 12s 8000mah) packs since 2007 with only one issue caused by me.
I closed an ammo box lid on my pack leads and shorted it out packed started smoking, threw it out in front yard and it lit up.
now I use a rubber band to hold all my leads to the packs side.. I put plain rubber bands on discharged packs and colored bands on fully charged to keep track of them