Abstract: A safety system comprising a work area having a perimeter and hazardous automated machinery within the perimeter, wherein access by workers to the work area within the perimeter is controlled by one or more controlled access points; at least one safety work cell within the perimeter, each safety work cell having no hazardous automated machinery within or accessible from the safety work cell; a primary key-secondary key system which includes a tertiary key receptacle within the safety work cell; an optional light barrier surrounding each safety work cell; optional fingerprint scanners to authenticate authorized persons, and a controller programmed to permit operation of the hazardous automated machinery only when all controlled access points are closed, all secondary keys are placed within either a secondary key receptacle or a tertiary key receptacle, any light barrier has not been tripped by interruption of the light barrier, and any fingerprint scanners have authenticated a person.