A powered cutting machine having a toothed blade with a cutting axis, the powered cutting machine comprising a safety attachment, said safety attachment comprising: at least four video cameras (103, 104, 105, 106) disposed about the toothed blade, each camera (103, 104, 105, 106) having an optical axis (103c, 104c, 105c, 106c) directed toward a cutting area and parallel to the cutting axis of the blade, each camera (103, 104, 105, 106) further comprising a readout device located at a plane of focus of a lens, the CCD of each camera (103, 104, 105, 106) having a first image receptive area located about the optical axis (103c, 104c, 105c, 106c); said first image receptive area encompassing a second, smaller image receptive area situated to one side of the optical axis (103c, 104c, 105c, 106c) and positioned so that, when in use, the second image receptive area receives an image derived from a volume bordered along one corner edge by the optical axis (103c, 104c, 105c, 106c) and including the cutting axis of the blade; wherein a first mode of operation of the safety attachment employs the second receptive image area of the CCD and a second mode of operation employs the first receptive area as a source of a video output; the safety attachment further comprising video signal analysis means having a video input for each camera (103, 104, 105, 106) and configured to be capable, when in use, of monitoring the video inputs and of responding to presence of a distinctively coloured object represented in any one or more of the video inputs by producing an actuator activating signal; a first actuator comprising blade braking means that is enabled during the first mode of operation; and a second actuator comprising blade proximity warning means that is enabled during the second mode of operation. at least four video cameras (103, 104, 105, 106) disposed about the toothed blade, each camera (103, 104, 105, 106) having an optical axis (103c, 104c, 105c, 106c) directed toward a cutting area and parallel to the cutting axis of the blade, each camera (103, 104, 105, 106) further comprising a readout device located at a plane of focus of a lens, the CCD of each camera (103, 104, 105, 106) having a first image receptive area located about the optical axis (103c, 104c, 105c, 106c); said first image receptive area encompassing a second, smaller image receptive area situated to one side of the optical axis (103c, 104c, 105c, 106c) and positioned so that, when in use, the second image receptive area receives an image derived from a volume bordered along one corner edge by the optical axis (103c, 104c, 105c, 106c) and including the cutting axis of the blade; wherein a first mode of operation of the safety attachment employs the second receptive image area of the CCD and a second mode of operation employs the first receptive area as a source of a video output; the safety attachment further comprising video signal analysis means having a video input for each camera (103, 104, 105, 106) and configured to be capable, when in use, of monitoring the video inputs and of responding to presence of a distinctively coloured object represented in any one or more of the video inputs by producing an actuator activating signal; a first actuator comprising blade braking means that is enabled during the first mode of operation; and a second actuator comprising blade proximity warning means that is enabled during the second mode of operation.