A cover assembly structured for use with an electrical switching apparatus and a movable locking element, the cover assembly being movable among a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration and comprising: a retention device being structured to be disposed on the electrical switching apparatus; a cover comprising an engagement element (26, 40), characterised by: one of the retention device and the cover being movable with respect to the other of the retention device and the cover between the first configuration of the cover assembly and the second configuration of the cover assembly and being structured to be engageable with the locking element to resist movement from the first configuration of the cover assembly toward the second configuration of the cover assembly; at least a portion (58, 60) of the retention device and the engagement element in the first configuration of the cover assembly confronting one another to resist movement of at least a portion of the cover away from the electrical switching apparatus; and the portion of the retention device and the engagement element in the second configuration of the cover assembly being clear of one another to permit movement of at least a portion of the cover away from the electrical switching apparatus between the second configuration of the cover assembly and the third configuration of the cover assembly. a retention device being structured to be disposed on the electrical switching apparatus; a cover comprising an engagement element (26, 40), characterised by: one of the retention device and the cover being movable with respect to the other of the retention device and the cover between the first configuration of the cover assembly and the second configuration of the cover assembly and being structured to be engageable with the locking element to resist movement from the first configuration of the cover assembly toward the second configuration of the cover assembly; at least a portion (58, 60) of the retention device and the engagement element in the first configuration of the cover assembly confronting one another to resist movement of at least a portion of the cover away from the electrical switching apparatus; and the portion of the retention device and the engagement element in the second configuration of the cover assembly being clear of one another to permit movement of at least a portion of the cover away from the electrical switching apparatus between the second configuration of the cover assembly and the third configuration of the cover assembly. one of the retention device and the cover being movable with respect to the other of the retention device and the cover between the first configuration of the cover assembly and the second configuration of the cover assembly and being structured to be engageable with the locking element to resist movement from the first configuration of the cover assembly toward the second configuration of the cover assembly; at least a portion (58, 60) of the retention device and the engagement element in the first configuration of the cover assembly confronting one another to resist movement of at least a portion of the cover away from the electrical switching apparatus; and the portion of the retention device and the engagement element in the second configuration of the cover assembly being clear of one another to permit movement of at least a portion of the cover away from the electrical switching apparatus between the second configuration of the cover assembly and the third configuration of the cover assembly.