Your biggest "problem" is finding affordable lead. I buy for a vendor-sponsor over at castboolits and get a good deal. As far as a table, don't use plastic. I would want a steady wood or metal table that does not wobble and is hard to tip. Thirty plus years ago I bought a Lee 4-20 bottom pour pot. Maybe because of my background I take good care of my tools it has lasted me all this time with just regular maintenance, and I do not smelt (clean lead) in my casting pot. I use a SS pan on a Coleman stove. If you are casting over a carpet, a fire resistant mat/rug might be a good idea, but I've never considered one. Other tools and equipment will be determined by you methods and style (I use a plastic mallet, a slotted spoon from Ma's kitchen and wooden slats for stirring. I drop my bullets on a folded towel in a cake pan).
Use logic when thinking safety; a fan to move air, closed shoes, long pants and normal cotton or cotton blend shirt. Eye protection is a must (I've never had a spill or a visit from the Tinsel Fairy but on one occasion I dropped a couple small sprues back in the pot and the "splash", a tiny drop of molten lead the size of a pin head, flew out and stuck to the lens of my Rx work glasses, directly in front of my iris). Your Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook will show other safety measures, but be aware that on most forums you will get everything from "The Sky is Falling" type recommendations rife with old wives tales to those recommending full Haz-Mat attire complete with full face face shields (some even use respirators) leather aprons, hats, elbow length gauntlets and shoe lace flaps. I wear my work/safety glasses 100% of the time when casting, jeans, shoes and a sweatshirt.I dislike gloves and my "lifelong mechanic's hands" still have pretty thick skin, and I have better feel/control of the tools and molds, gloves for me are clumsy. While I haven't had a spill in over 40 years of casting I screwed the Lee pot to a plank and it won't tip. I sometimes put a cookie sheet under the pot to catch spills (never needed one and my Lee pot is kept in good working order and doesn't leak). Other than that just think. (one time I dropped a "perfect" bullet from a mold and I was so impressed, I picked it up. I had blisters on my fingers for a few weeks...).
A good source of info on every aspect of lead bullet casting, processing, loading and shooting is over at the castboolits forum
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/