A sawing device for splitting up a workpiece, in particular a wooden workpiece, having a saw blade, a first drive unit, in order to set the saw blade in rotation, in particular a first electric motor, and a protective apparatus, wherein the protective apparatus is arranged at least in sections around the periphery of the saw blade in such a way that an operator located next to the sawing device is protected against the rotating saw blade, wherein the protective apparatus comprises a movable part, wherein the movable part is arranged pivotably about the pivot point of the saw blade in such a way that, as a result of the introduction of the workpiece into the sawing device for a splitting process, the movable part is pivoted in such a way that acting of the rotating saw blade on the workpiece is enabled.