The invention discloses a tri-position operating apparatus for a switching device used for operations of switch-on, switch-off and grounding operating positions of an isolating grounding switch of a high-voltage combination electric appliance. The forward and backward rotation of a single motor drives a gear pair/a worm and worm wheel pair/a geneva mechanism/an output gear to the output shaft to realize the tri-position batch operation. Driving pins are meshed with grooves of grooved wheels in the switch-on, switch-off and grounding positions; the positions of corresponding moving contacts are locked; and chains are driven by corresponding chain wheels on the corresponding grooved wheel shafts to drive an auxiliary switch geneva mechanism and gears to drive so as to realize the program-based behaviors of the isolation auxiliary switch/grounding auxiliary switch. By adoption of the operating apparatus, the tri-position moving contact error caused by mechanism clearance, component error, stress deformation and abrasion is eliminated; particularly in the switch-on-to-switch-off positions and the grounding-to-switch-off positions, the separate movement of the auxiliary switches of the isolation/grounding switches is carried out, so that the circuit design can be controlled conveniently. The tri-position operating apparatus is simple in structure, accurate in the tri-position and the rotary angle, stable, safe and reliable, and high in economic benefit.