i have to agree, starting on a table is a bad idea. just a couple of weeks ago a member of our club started his plane on a table, and when he went to pick up his transmitter he bumped the throttle, sending the plane off the table, luckily to nose in and break the prop/stop the engine. of course, had he used someone to hold the plane, that wouldn't have happened, but it did. i'm positive this scenario has happened elsewhere, or will happen. i'm a big fan of starting planes near the flight line, on the ground. i don't start them up behind people, and i only use a table when i'm starting one without landing gear.

also, i bet if you really checked into it, you'd find that most people don't get hurt because of bad technique, they get hurt because of complacency. they get careless and stick their hand through the prop. the most important thing, no matter what you do, is to PAY ATTENTION to what YOU are doing.