Patent ID: 7863780

Claim:
A safety switching device for a hazardous area defined by motor-driven components, the device being switchable into at least two control stages, wherein in a first control stage at least some of the motor-driven components can be switched into a state of reduced risk potential and in at least one second control stage at least some of the motor-driven components can be shut off, and wherein the safety switching device comprises an apparatus for determining the position of the safety switching device inside the hazardous area, characterized in that an actuating apparatus for switching the safety switching device into one of the control stages is provided, wherein the safety switching device in at least one second position of the actuating apparatus is in the second control stage and in a first position of the actuating apparatus is in the first control stage, one of the second positions being an idle position of the actuating apparatus, characterized in that the actuating apparatus has two second positions in which the safety switching device can be switched into the second control stage.