Greetings 77,
I pour quite a bit of lead so I may be able to help ya a bit. The safest is to pour outside, wearing a mask, smock and gloves. The easiest is to just pour outside and not to worry about the mask, smock and gloves. Try not to inhale the fumes or to handle the lead as much as possible. I use a spoon for placing my lead "Ingots" into the pot.
I use a Lee 10lb production pot. I should have gone with the 20 lb pot, though. Would save a bit of time. Make sure you have an old spoon and coffee can handy. From time to time, you have to clear the "Slag" (misc. junk that collects on the surface of the hot lead) from the top and dump it. An old spoon works well to clear it and a coffee can works well to hold the junk.
I also usually have a flat head screwdriver handy (for clearing the spout) a set of needle nose pliars (for removing jigheads from a mold when they stick) and some wire to stick into the spout to clear any debris that builds up.
Just be careful...the stuff really gets hot.......I know
Threaded Mode