Compartment barrier for padmounted switchgear

An electrical distribution apparatus comprising:

• and enclosure defining an access region accessible from an area exterior of the enclosure and a shielded region that is to be normally shielded against access from the area exterior of the enclosure;
• a switchgear device including a fixed element and a movable element, the fixed element being supported within the shielded region of the enclosure and the movable element being supported within the enclosure for movement between a closed, current-carrying position in contact with the fixed element within the shielded region and an open position out of contact with the fixed element, the movable element being disposed at least partially within the access region when in the open position;
• a panel supported on the enclosure between the shielded and access regions, the panel including a slot through which the movable element passes during movement between the closed and open positions;
• a barrier member supported on the panel and movable horizontally relative to the panel between a blocking position in which the barrier member covers the slot and a non-blocking position in which the barrier member exposes the slot, the barrier member preventing inadvertent contact with the fixed element through the slot and preventing movement of the movable element between the open and closed positions when in the blocking position;
• and
• shifting means for shifting the movable element between the open and closed positions, the shifting means including an arm supported within the enclosure and movable between a first position corresponding to the closed position of the movable element and a second position corresponding to the open position, the arm being disposed at least partially within the access region when in the second position, the panel having a portion cut away through which the arm passes during movement between the first and second positions, the barrier member covering the portion of the panel when the barrier member is in the blocking position in order to prevent movement of the arm from the second position to the first position.