SAFETY SWITCH

1 . A safety switch arranged to allow the control of power supplied to an apparatus, wherein the safety switch is provided with a biometric sensor module arranged to obtain biological information from a user of the safety switch, such that activation of the safety switch is controlled via the biological information obtained.

2 . The safety switch of claim 1 wherein the biometric sensor module comprises a fingerprint reader.

3 . The safety switch of claim 1 wherein at least one of the safety switch and the biometric sensor module comprises a first processor arranged to interpret the biological information.

4 . The safety switch of claim 3 wherein the at least one of the safety switch and the biometric sensor module comprises a second processor arranged to interpret the biological information.

5 . The safety switch of claim 1 further comprising a comparator for comparing the obtained biological information with authorised biological information from one or more users authorised to activate the safety switch.

6 . The safety switch of claim 5 wherein the comparator is connected to one of the safety switch and the biometric sensor module.

7 . The safety switch of claim 5 further comprising one of a database or storage medium arranged to store the authorised biological information.

8 . The safety switch of claim 7 wherein the one of the database or storage medium is operably connected to the biometric sensor module.

9 . The safety switch of claim 7 further comprising a server configured to store the authorised biological information.

10 . The safety switch of claim 1 wherein the biometric sensor module is removable from the safety switch.

11 . The safety switch of claim 1 wherein the biometric sensor module is arranged to provide a signal in the form of at least one of an electrical signal, a pressure wave, and an electromagnetic wave.

12 . The safety switch of claim 11 wherein the signal comprises the biological information.

13 . The safety switch of claim 1 further comprising a power source connected to the biometric sensor module.

14 . The safety switch of claim 1 wherein the safety switch is arranged to allow the control of at least one of pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical power supplied to an apparatus.

15 . A safety switch arranged to control one of operation and access to a machine through receipt of biological information from a biometric sensor module.

16 . The safety switch of claim 15 wherein the safety switch is arranged to receive the biometric sensor module.

17 . A method of operating a safety switch arranged to allow the control of power supplied to an apparatus, and wherein the safety switch is provided with a biometric sensor module arranged to obtain biological information from a user of the safety switch, such that activation of the safety switch is controlled via the biological information obtained, and wherein the method comprises:

obtaining biological information from a user wishing to activate the safety switch via the biometric sensor module to;

comparing the obtained biological information with authorised biological information from one or more users authorised to activate the safety switch; and

activating the switch if the biological information obtained from the user matches the authorised biological information.

18 . A method of claim 17 wherein the switch may only be deactivated if the user who activated the switch provides biological information to the biometric sensor module.

19 . The method of claim 17 wherein one of the safety switch and the biometric sensor module compares the obtained biological information with authorised biological information.

20 . The method of claim 17 wherein the step of activating the switch further comprises severing or establishing communication of at least one of electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic power to a machine based on a current condition of the machine.