An apparatus includes a switch having alternately open and closed conditions, and a shunt trip mechanism configured to detect and respond to an electrical fault condition. The apparatus further includes an operating mechanism including a spring assembly. The operating mechanism is actuatable manually to deflect the spring assembly into a stressed condition, and is actuatable automatically in response to the shunt trip mechanism to shift the switch into the open condition upon return deflection of the spring assembly from the stressed condition. The spring assembly may include springs connected in parallel.