A method for protecting a nonmobile work machine driven by an electric motor, at least one measured value of a time-critical parameter of the work machine being determined via a measuring unit, the work machine being switched off when the determined measured value of the time-critical parameter is outside a predefined setpoint range, and the determined measured value of the time-critical parameter being quantized in a level signal (i1, i2, i3, i4) and transmitted as a first signal to an evaluation unit via an interface, wherein a second signal for further information concerning the work machine, to be transmitted from the measuring unit to the evaluation unit, is modulated to the first signal wherein the second signal is a digital data signal having a defined data transmission rate and wherein the second signal is modulated by pulse width modulation, wherein the digital data signal of the second signal is made up of two different pulse widths of the positive pulse, of the negative pulse, or both.