Abstract: A press brake safety apparatus for use on a press brake (10) of the kind having a moving blade (18) having a leading edge (36) and a platform (38) against which an item (42) may be pressed, the safety apparatus comprising at least one beam (26) of light mounted at a level marginally forward of and substantially parallel to the leading edge (36) so as to move with the blade (18), the interruption of the or each beam (26) causing the movement of the blade (18) to stop and thereby halting operation of the press brake (10) without the leading edge (36) contacting the item (42).