A safety switching apparatus for failsafe disconnection of an electrical load has a first and a second connecting terminal for connecting a first signaling switch and a third and a fourth connecting terminal for connecting a second signaling switch. It also has a first and a second output switching element, which are designed to produce a redundant output switching signal. The first connecting terminal is connected to a first potential and the third connecting terminal is connected to a second potential. The potentials differ from one another. In addition, the second connecting terminal is coupled to the first switching element in such a way that the first switching element receives the first potential via the first signaling switch. Likewise, the fourth connecting terminal is coupled to the second switching element in such a way that the second switching element receives the second potential via the second signaling switch. According to one aspect of the invention, a circuit arrangement is provided for determining at least one further potential at the second and/or fourth connecting terminal, and said circuit arrangement is designed to control the redundant output switching signal as a function of the further potential.