The safety edge or safety bumper are flexible strips which can be fixed to the edge of a moving part such as a machine table or powered door where there is a risk of a crushing or shearing hazard.

If the moving part that includes the safety edge or bumper strikes operator (or vice versa) the flexible safety edge is depressed and will send a signal to the power source to stop.

A safety edge or safety bumper can be classified as a "trip" device. The safety edge or bumper does not restrict access but will only "sense" it. Both the safety edge and the safety bumper rely entirely on their ability to both sense and switch for the provision of safety therefore it is important the control circuit for the safety edge or safety bumper be control reliable. In general the safety edge and safety bumper should only be used on machines which stop immediately after removal of power.