Handheld work apparatus

A handheld work apparatus, comprising:

• a housing (2);
• a drive motor (3) arranged in the housing (2);
• a tool (4) operatively connected to and driven by the drive motor (3);
• a handle portion (5) formed on the housing (2),
• wherein the handle portion (5) has a top side (6) and a bottom side (7) opposite the top side (6), the top side (6) being positioned above the bottom side (7) when the handheld work apparatus is oriented in an operating orientation;
• an actuating element (8) for actuating the drive motor (3), the actuating element (8) being arranged on the bottom side (7) of the handle portion (5) and being movable between an inoperative position and an actuated position;
• a blocking element (9) arranged on the top side (6) of the handle portion (5),
• wherein the blocking element (9) is movable between a blocking position (11) and an operating position (10),
• wherein the blocking element (9) cooperates with the actuating element (8), and
• wherein, in the blocking position (11), the blocking element (9) blocks the actuating element (8) in the inoperative position, and
• wherein, in the operating position (10), the blocking element (9) releases the actuating element (8) so that the actuating element (8) is movable from the inoperative position to the actuated position;
• a control circuit (17) for controlling the drive motor (3), the control circuit (17) being arranged in the housing (2);
• and
• a switch (15) with a switching element (16), wherein the blocking element (9) actuates the switching element (16) when the blocking element (9) is in the blocking position (11),
• wherein the switch (15) is in communication with the control circuit (17) and, in an activated state, sends a signal to the control circuit (17),
• wherein the control circuit (17) is designed such that the drive motor (3) is enabled for operation only when the control circuit (17) receives the signal of the switch (15), and
• wherein the switch (15) is arranged in the handle portion (5) between the blocking element (9) and the bottom side (7) of the handle portion (5) and is oriented such that the switching element (16) of the switch (15) faces the bottom side (7) of the handle portion (5).