The invention relates to a device for actuating actuators in a motor vehicle having an at least partially metallic housing (MG) in which an electric circuit is arranged, which has at least one high-voltage-generating circuit (HES) for generating an output voltage (UHS) which is higher than a voltage which is considered safe for people, from the on-board motor vehicle power system voltage. The electric circuit has a monitoring circuit (UES) which has a first input (E1) which is connected to a reference voltage (Vref), and has a second input (E2) which is connected to the at least partially metallic housing (MG), and the output (A) of which is operatively connected to the high-voltage-generating circuit (HSS) in such a way that in the case of a differential voltage at the two inputs (E1, E2) which is higher than a predefined value, the high-voltage-generating circuit (HSS) is deactivated or the output voltage (UHS) thereof is limited to a value of at maximum the voltage which is considered safe for people.