On the counter? Maybe to get the thawing process to started but never for a full thaw.... But sink full of cold water does the trick every time.. As far as being safe? I don't know according to "The Man" its not safe at all... But I have thawed everything in a sink of cold water... Hamburger, whole chickens, thanksgiving turkey, chirstmas hams, pork butts, ribs.. Except the turkeys which I let thaw over night changing water every couple hrs.. I only thaw this way if I'm eating the meal that day..
Best thing about thawing in cold water over hot water, or leaving it out on the counter.. if you decide that's not what your eating, I've thrown the item in the fridge and ate it the next day!
Biggest problem with cold water in a sink... water logging, if you buy ground beef from the store in the foam tray that's plastic wrapped and you just toss those in the freezer.. That's not gonna keep the water out of the burger as it thaws.. Solve that by a ziplock bag. .. Got a vacuum bag that doesn't have a good seal to it? Gonna get water in the bag.
Never got sick from thawing meats in the sink.. will continue to do so until I do and I know for a fact that's why. But so far Its almost a daily thing I'm thawing something out in a container of cold water or the sink