A safety device, especially for shears, is used for stopping the movement between a stationary element (6) and a moving element (7), which can be moved towards the stationary element by means of a transmission (9c, 19, 39 to 42) which has an element (11b) which can be lifted off, and for returning the moving element to its original position. In order to create a safety device of simpler construction, the transmission is a transmission which produces the reciprocating movement of the moving element and transmits this movement by means of a flexibly elastic element (19). The element which can be lifted off and can be removed from its clamped position as desired engages on the flexibly elastic element (Fig. 2). <IMAGE>
