I had not heard the term "death wheel" before either, but maybe it's somewhat appropriate. I have not personally heard of anyone being killed by one of these small discs exploding, but I suppose it's possible. More likely, the flying shards could cause severe cuts or could take out an unprotected eye.

Kickback is generally caused by the blade binding in the cut because either the cutting tool or workpiece moved and caused momentary misalignment. Although it is almost impossible to eliminate 100% of kickbacks, the frequency and strength of them can be reduced if the workpiece is solidly held in place while cutting. I cut these brackets while the workpiece was held in a vise. Cutting thin stuff (sheet metal) is another challenge because it can flex and bind the blade no matter how solidly it is held. Firebird77clone said it right - attention to task and proper safety equipment.