Abstract: A safety switch system for a machine having a ram which can be cycled toward and away from a workstation includes a pair of trip switch triggers disposed on handgrips remote from the workstation and an anvil switch trigger coupled to the machine at the workstation. The trip switch triggers are operable to effect a first signal, and the anvil switch trigger is operable to effect a second signal. The handgrips are coupled to a workpiece holder which is movable to align a selected area of a workpiece in the tooling ram path and to move the workpiece into actuating engagement with the anvil switch trigger. A control system is provided for cycling the ram upon sensing the first and second signals.