Apparatus including a modified band saw having a mechanically driven toothed steel cutting blade in the form of a closed loop that passes around and is driven when in use by a drive wheel and passing around at least one idler wheel, the toothed steel cutting blade for cutting an item when the item is pushed by a worker's hands against the blade, wherein, the apparatus includes in combination: (a) hazard identification means employing optical imaging and image analysis means capable when in use of detecting the position of one or more parts of said hands in relation to the position of the cutting blade, hence establishing whether or not the hands are at risk in relation to the blade and generating a SIGNAL , and (b) blade stopping means including means capable when in use of applying a braking action to the blade, in order to stop the blade as soon as a hazardous situation is recognised by the optical imaging and image analysis means, wherein the apparatus further includes a combination of means to bring a moving band saw blade to an abrupt and complete stop; characterized in that said combination further comprises means capable when in use of activation by the SIGNAL of removing a working tension from the band saw blade, thereby changing the blade from a state of being connected by a static frictional grip around the at least one idler wheel and from a drive wheel to a state of being disconnected from said wheels, and braking means capable when in use of activation by the SIGNAL and bringing the moving blade to a complete stop, wherein the means for removing a working tension from the band saw blade comprises means to move an axis of rotation of a shaft that supports the at least one idler wheel carrying the blade and in turn is supported by bearing means located within a movable mount from a first, engaged axis position to a second, disengaged axis position closer to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel along a slidable support , thereby releasing an operating tension from the band saw blade and disengaging the band saw blade from the or each wheel, wherein the means to secure the bearing means in the moveable mount at the first engaged axis position comprises a pivotable catch retaining the moveable mount in the first position; the catch being maintained in position by retaining means including a pivoted lever maintained in an over-centre and locked position during normal use, and capable on receipt of the SIGNAL of being unlocked by an actuator , thereby allowing the axis of rotation of the idler wheel to be pulled into the second disengaged axis position; and wherein the means to bring the moving saw blade to an abrupt stop comprise application of a force along a rotatable brake shoe , through the moving saw blade, and against a fixed brake shoe . (a) hazard identification means employing optical imaging and image analysis means capable when in use of detecting the position of one or more parts of said hands in relation to the position of the cutting blade, hence establishing whether or not the hands are at risk in relation to the blade and generating a SIGNAL , and (b) blade stopping means including means capable when in use of applying a braking action to the blade, in order to stop the blade as soon as a hazardous situation is recognised by the optical imaging and image analysis means, wherein the apparatus further includes a combination of means to bring a moving band saw blade to an abrupt and complete stop; characterized in that said combination further comprises <EOS>