Abstract: A guard for use with a woodworking machine having a worktable and a cutting tool for performing operations on a workpiece is disclosed. A guard in accordance with the present invention comprises a guard member having a body portion, a workpiece engaging portion, and a machine engaging portion. The workpiece engaging portion of the guard member includes a workpiece engaging surface. The workpiece engaging surface is preferably configured such that the body portion of the guard member is deflected when the workpiece is urged against the workpiece engaging surface in a direction substantially parallel to a working surface of the worktable for engagement with the cutting tool.