Control circuit for a plurality of electrical loads with a safeguard for the semiconductor switches

A control circuit for multiple electrical loads (52) has a power switch (51) associated with each load (52) for adjusting the current supplied to the load, and a control unit for driving the power semiconductor. The control circuit includes a monitoring device for ascertaining whether a power semiconductor (51) supplies current to the respective load (52), an interrupt element (54) arranged in the current supply to the power semiconductor, and a short circuit switch (70) which is connected to the several current supplies to the power semiconductors (51), and effects an interruption of the interrupt element (54) depending on a short circuit signal to the control unit via a short circuit. The control circuit interrupts the several current supplies connected to the short circuit switch (70) by activating this short circuit switch, when the monitoring device establishes current supply to one of the loads via a power semiconductor (51). An independent claim is included for method for safeguarding the drive to the electrical loads.