Abstract: This invention provides a safety guard for pressing apparatus such as a brake press, in which shield plates are positively and securely maintained in the "guard" position adjacent the usual ram of the brake press. Upon descent of the ram, an interlocking tooth arrangement which is instrumental in holding the shield plates in the "guard" position is disconnected, and a swing lever is pivoted about a point fixed with respect to the frame of the brake press, at the same time raising the shield plates to allow for the bending sheet metal to "whip" upwardly during the bending. The interlocking tooth arrangement consists of one tooth on the lever and another tooth on a dog member which is mounted for pivotal motion with respect to the frame of the brake press. A contact portion is adapted to descend along with the ram, and a contact portion first cams the dog member out of the way, and then presses against the lever to rotate the same and thus lift the shield.