Abstract: A foot operated safety switch, preferably including an electronic control reset circuit, is connected between a source of electrical current and the power cord of an electrically operated device having an on/off switch on it. The safety switch operates as an off-only device and cannot be used to turn on the device once it has been operated to turn the device off. To reoperate the device, the on/off switch on the device first must be turned off and then turned backon. This reset necessity also is incorporated into the system to prevent the device from being automatically turned back on after it has been turned off by a power failure.