A safety cutting device including: an electrically conductive cutting member; a motor for actuating the cutting member; a handle for gripping the tool; and an emergency stop device that is sensitive to a user making contact with the cutting member. The tool further includes: at least a first and at least a second manual contact electrode; an electrical monitoring circuit having the first manual contact electrode and the cutting member; a device for measuring a monitoring voltage between the cutting member and the second manual contact electrode; a comparator for comparing at least one electrical monitoring characteristic with an electrical threshold characteristic, the comparator driving the emergency stop device. The safety cutting device is applicable to secateurs and shears in particular.