The disclosed invention ensures safe operation of an electrical switchgear by preventing an operator from contacting or interacting with an active circuit breaker. The locking system prevents a door to the interior of the switchgear from opening until the circuit breaker is in a disengaged position. A circuit breaker decoupler, accessible from the exterior of the switchgear, directly manipulates the circuit breaker into disengagement and also allows physical manipulation of the circuit breaker. By having the decoupler and tool interface in the same device, this removes the need to open the arc covers, negating arc resistance.