An apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of a slide of a fail-safe press. The movement of the hands of a worker in/out of dangerous areas (D and DN) above the bolster of the press is detected on the basis of the output generation modes of two light curtains (5 and 21). When the movement of the hands of the worker out of the dangerous areas (D and DN) is detected a signal which permits the descending operation of the slide is generated.