Read up-thread. My father's shotgun got knocked off safe when he fell, likely from a branch hitting it. That same branch could have hit the trigger. I don't blame Remington (it was his trusty 1100), and I like their cross-bolt safety design, but I recognize that it's very possible this man had the safety engaged, but the firearm still discharged.
The gun's always loaded and ready to fire. That's the rule. consideration of that rule means you point the gun where it will cause no significant harm when it goes off by itself and you keep it that way. The dad failed at that. His kid was in front of him, right were the barrel was pointed.