A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids comprising: - one or more first and second line terminals (91, 92) electrically connectable to corresponding first and second line conductors (51, 52) of an electric line, respectively; - a first switching unit having one or more first electric poles, each first electric pole comprising a first pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding first line terminal, a second pole contact and one or more solid-state switches electrically connected to said first and second pole contacts and adapted to operate in a conduction state or in an interdiction state to allow or interrupt a current flow, wherein said first switching unit is reversibly switchable between a closed condition, in which said solid-state switches are in a conduction state, and an open condition, in which said solid-state switches are in an interdiction state, wherein said first switching unit is reversibly movable between an insertion condition, in which said first pole contacts are coupled with said first line terminals, and a withdrawal condition, in which said first pole contacts are uncoupled from said first line terminals; - a second switching unit having one or more second electric poles, each second electric pole comprising a third pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding second pole contact of the first switching unit, a fourth pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding second line terminal and electric contacts electrically connected to said third and fourth pole contacts and adapted to operate in a coupled state or on an uncoupled state to allow or interrupt a current flow, wherein said second switching unit is reversibly switchable between a closed condition, in which said electric contacts are in a coupled state, and an open condition, in which said electric contacts are in an uncoupled state, wherein said second switching unit is reversibly movable between an insertion condition, in which said fourth pole contacts are coupled with said second line terminals, and a withdrawal condition, in which said fourth pole contacts are uncoupled from said second line terminals. - a controller adapted to control the operation of said switching apparatus; characterised in that said second switching unit comprises an emergency control arrangement activatable by a user to make said second switching unit to switch from said closed condition to said open condition, said emergency control arrangement comprising an emergency command button that can be operated by a user, said emergency command button being accessible to a user upon removing one or more structural parts (28, 28A) of said second switching unit. - one or more first and second line terminals (91, 92) electrically connectable to corresponding first and second line conductors (51, 52) of an electric line, respectively; - a first switching unit having one or more first electric poles, each first electric pole comprising a first pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding first line terminal, a second pole contact and one or more solid-state switches electrically connected to said first and second pole contacts and adapted to operate in a conduction state or in an interdiction state to allow or interrupt a current flow, wherein said first switching unit is reversibly switchable between a closed condition, in which said solid-state switches are in a conduction state, and an open condition, in which said solid-state switches are in an interdiction state, wherein said first switching unit is reversibly movable between an insertion condition, in which said first pole contacts are coupled with said first line terminals, and a withdrawal condition, in which said first pole contacts are uncoupled from said first line terminals; - a second switching unit having one or more second electric poles, each second electric pole comprising a third pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding second pole contact of the first switching unit, a fourth pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding second line terminal and electric contacts electrically connected to said third and fourth pole contacts and adapted to operate in a coupled state or on an uncoupled state to allow or interrupt a current flow, wherein said second switching unit is reversibly switchable between a closed condition, in which said electric contacts are in a coupled state, and an open condition, in which said electric contacts are in an uncoupled state, wherein said second switching unit is reversibly movable between an insertion condition, in which said fourth pole contacts are coupled with said second line terminals, and a withdrawal condition, in which said fourth pole contacts are uncoupled from said second line terminals. wherein said second switching unit is reversibly switchable between a closed condition, in which said electric contacts are in a coupled state, and an open condition, in which said electric contacts are in an uncoupled state, wherein said second switching unit is reversibly movable between an insertion condition, in which said fourth pole contacts are coupled with said second line terminals, and a withdrawal condition, in which said fourth pole contacts are uncoupled from said second line terminals. - a controller adapted to control the operation of said switching apparatus;