A power tool comprising: a housing; a motor within the housing; an output component coupled to the motor, the output component defining an operating path (500, 510) of the power tool; an object detection sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of a material in the operating path of the power tool; and a controller coupled to the motor and the object detection sensor, the controller comprising an electronic processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the electronic processor cause the controller to: receive an input indicating a material of a target workpiece; receive output signals from the object detection sensor and a trigger switch of the power tool; determine, based on the output signal from the object detection sensor, whether flesh is present in the operating path of the power tool; inhibit operation of the motor until the material of the target workpiece is detected and the absence of flesh is confirmed based on the output signals from the object detection sensor; activate the motor according to the output signal received from the trigger switch when the material of the target workpiece is detected, and the absence of flesh is confirmed; and interrupt power to the motor in response to determining that the flesh is present in the operating path of the power tool. a housing; a motor within the housing; an output component coupled to the motor, the output component defining an operating path (500, 510) of the power tool; an object detection sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of a material in the operating path of the power tool; and a controller coupled to the motor and the object detection sensor, the controller comprising an electronic processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the electronic processor cause the controller to: receive an input indicating a material of a target workpiece; receive output signals from the object detection sensor and a trigger switch of the power tool; determine, based on the output signal from the object detection sensor, whether flesh is present in the operating path of the power tool; inhibit operation of the motor until the material of the target workpiece is detected and the absence of flesh is confirmed based on the output signals from the object detection sensor; activate the motor according to the output signal received from the trigger switch when the material of the target workpiece is detected, and the absence of flesh is confirmed; and interrupt power to the motor in response to determining that the flesh is present in the operating path of the power tool. receive an input indicating a material of a target workpiece; receive output signals from the object detection sensor and a trigger switch of the power tool; determine, based on the output signal from the object detection sensor, whether flesh is present in the operating path of the power tool; inhibit operation of the motor until the material of the target workpiece is detected and the absence of flesh is confirmed based on the output signals from the object detection sensor; activate the motor according to the output signal received from the trigger switch when the material of the target workpiece is detected, and the absence of flesh is confirmed; and interrupt power to the motor in response to determining that the flesh is present in the operating path of the power tool.