A surgical safety apparatus for use in connection with an energizable surgical device minimizes inadvertent activation of a surgical tool when the oxygen or flammable gas level is too high. An activation circuit is connected with an energy source and with a hand piece of the tool. A sensor measures the oxygen or flammable gas near the tool and can operate in a first state to disconnect the energy source from the hand piece. In a second state the source of energy is connected to the hand piece. The sensing element is connected to the activation circuit. The sensing element signals the activation circuit to convert the activation circuit from the first state to the second state provided the oxygen or flammable gas level is safe.
