A power saw comprising a safety component , the power saw having platform for supporting a workpiece (W), a rotating cutting blade , an arm assembly supporting the cutting blade , an arm pivot mount pivotably supporting the arm assembly on the platform for pivoting the blade toward a workpiece (W) supported on the platform , an upper guard on the arm assembly configured to protect the operator from the top portion of the cutting blade , and a lower guard configured to protect the operator from a rear portion of the cutting blade , the safety component comprising: a rear guard including a base portion and a pair of arms extending from the base portion and spaced apart to form a generally U-shape defining an opening for receiving the cutting blade between the arms ; and a pivot mount configured to pivotably mount the rear guard relative to the arm assembly to receive a rear portion of the cutting blade adjacent the arm pivot mount when the rear guard is in a deployed position; wherein each arm includes a shroud portion extending from each arm and configured to overlap at least a portion of the cutting blade when the rear guard is in the deployed position receiving the cutting blade , said shroud portion sized to prevent operator contact with the cutting blade , and wherein at least one of said arms includes a finger extending generally radially outward from the pivot mount toward the cutting blade , the finger sized and arranged to contact a workpiece (W) supported on the platform , whereby as the cutting blade is pivoted downward onto the workpiece (W) the finger and the rear guard are pivoted upward, characterized in that the power saw includes a chip deflector mounted to a rear portion of the arm assembly , wherein the pivot mount is configured to pivotably mount the rear guard to the chip deflector , wherein the base portion is configured to fit with the lower end of the chip deflector , and wherein the rear guard is mounted to the chip deflector to translate upward, or to move with a combination of translation and rotation, when the fingers contact the workpiece (W). a rear guard including a base portion and a pair of arms extending from the base portion and spaced apart to form a generally U-shape defining an opening for receiving the cutting blade between the arms ; and a pivot mount configured to pivotably mount the rear guard relative to the arm assembly to receive a rear portion of the cutting blade adjacent the arm pivot mount when the rear guard is in a deployed position; wherein each arm includes a shroud portion extending from each arm and configured to overlap at least a portion of the cutting blade when the rear guard is in the deployed position receiving the cutting blade , said shroud portion sized to prevent operator contact with the cutting blade , and wherein at least one of said arms includes a finger extending generally radially outward from the pivot mount toward the cutting blade , the finger sized and arranged to contact a workpiece (W) supported on the platform , whereby as the cutting blade is pivoted downward onto the workpiece (W) the finger and the rear guard are pivoted upward, characterized in that the power saw includes a chip deflector mounted to a rear portion of the arm assembly , wherein the pivot mount is configured to pivotably mount the rear guard to the chip deflector , wherein the base portion is configured to fit with the lower end of the chip deflector , and wherein the rear guard is mounted to the chip deflector to translate upward, or to move with a combination of translation and rotation, when the fingers contact the workpiece (W). <EOS>