Method for actuating a safe switching element of an installation

A method for actuating a mode selection switching element (3) of an installation by means of a safe control operation, wherein the installation has a functional controller (11) and communication connections, and wherein the functional controller (11) has a storage unit, a (sequence) control apparatus, a display (7) and a user interface, wherein the method includes the following steps:

• providing (101) a mode selection actuating element (3′) on a user interface;
• receiving (102) a user input to change the operating mode at the user interface;
• storing (103) the data of the change of operating mode in the storage unit (10);
• transmitting (104) the data relating to the change of operating mode to the mode selection switching element (3);
• transmitting (105) the data relating to the change of operating mode from the mode-selection switching element back to the functional controller (11);
• checking (106) whether the operating mode of the data which have been transmitted back correspond to the stored data of the change of operating mode;
• transmitting (107) a confirmation to the mode selection switching element (3);
• and
• changing (108) the operating mode by means of the mode selection switching element;
• characterized in that an approval of the confirmation of the operating mode actuating element by the functional controller (11) takes place on the basis of a general access and authorization concept, wherein upon reception of the user input and/or the confirmation an identity check of the user is carried out.