A pole shaft catch assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical apparatus comprising a housing, separable contacts (6,8) enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts (6,8), said operating mechanism including a pole shaft pivotably coupled to the housing and a yoke assembly coupled to said pole shaft, said pole shaft catch assembly comprising: a catch arm structured to cooperate with said yoke assembly, said catch arm moving between an engaged position in which said catch arm engages said yoke assembly to restrict movement of said yoke assembly and said pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which said catch arm disengages said yoke assembly; a biasing element biasing said catch arm toward said disengaged position; and a trigger cooperating with said catch arm, said trigger being structured to translate movement of said yoke assembly into movement of said catch arm, wherein said catch arm comprises a mounting portion and a catch portion disposed opposite and distal from said mounting portion; wherein said catch arm is structured to pivot about said mounting portion with respect to said yoke assembly; and wherein said trigger engages said catch portion to move said catch arm toward said engaged position, wherein said catch arm further comprises a first planar member, a second planar member, and a cross member; wherein said second planar member is disposed opposite and spaced apart from said first planar member; and wherein said cross member extends between said first planar member and said second planar member at or about said catch portion, and characterized in that said trigger comprises an actuation portion and a trigger portion; wherein said actuation portion is structured to cooperate with said yoke assembly to pivot said trigger; wherein said trigger portion extends between said first planar member and said second planar member; and wherein, responsive to said yoke assembly pivoting said trigger, said trigger portion engages said cross member and pivots said catch arm toward said engaged position. a catch arm structured to cooperate with said yoke assembly, said catch arm moving between an engaged position in which said catch arm engages said yoke assembly to restrict movement of said yoke assembly and said pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which said catch arm disengages said yoke assembly; a biasing element biasing said catch arm toward said disengaged position; and a trigger cooperating with said catch arm, said trigger being structured to translate movement of said yoke assembly into movement of said catch arm, wherein said catch arm comprises a mounting portion and a catch portion disposed opposite and distal from said mounting portion; wherein said catch arm is structured to pivot about said mounting portion with respect to said yoke assembly; and wherein said trigger engages said catch portion to move said catch arm toward said engaged position, wherein said catch arm further comprises a first planar member, a second planar member, and a cross member; wherein said second planar member is disposed opposite and spaced apart from said first planar member; and wherein said cross member extends between said first planar member and said second planar member at or about said catch portion, and characterized in that said trigger comprises an actuation portion and a trigger portion; wherein said actuation portion is structured to cooperate with said yoke assembly to pivot said trigger; wherein said trigger portion extends between said first planar member and said second planar member; and wherein, responsive to said yoke assembly pivoting said trigger, said trigger portion engages said cross member and pivots said catch arm toward said engaged position.