Safety control system for fail-safe control of safety-critical processes and method for running a new operating program therein

The invention relates to a safety control system (10) and to a method for running a new operating program (34) therein. The safety control system (10) has an input module (18) for automatic reading ofprocess signals, a fail-safe signal processing module (20) for automatic processing of process signals and a fail-safe output module (22) that generates control signals depending upon the signal processing module (20). The signal processing module (20) has at least on programmable processor (24) and at least one read-only storage (26). A current operating program (30) for the processor (24) is stored in a non-volatile manner in the read-only storage (26). A download device (32) is provided in the safety control system (10) for receiving a new operating program (34), wherein the download device (32) enables or stops the reception of the new operating program (34) in a fail-safe manner depending on clearance information (40, 42).