A handle for a compartment of a low, medium or high voltage switchgear includes: a body part; a hand grasping part; and a lock. The handle is movable from a closed position to an open position. When the handle is in the closed position, the handle is not useable to open a door of a compartment of the switchgear. When the handle is in the open position, the handle is useable to open the door of the compartment of the switchgear. In the open position, the hand grasping part is positioned so as to be graspable by a human user. In the closed position, a transition of an active element in the compartment of the switchgear from a quiescent state to an active or potentially active state activates the lock. Activation of the lock stops the handle from moving from the closed position to the open position.