A toggle switch includes a main housing that contains an electrical contact assembly operated by a cam member which opens and closes the contacts through movement of a leaf spring. The switch further includes a modular assembly of a housing cover to which a manually operable pivotable handle is mounted and is connected to a rotatable bushing supported shaft. The shaft operates a gear set attached to the cam member. The contacts provide an electrical connection to terminals that are insert molded into the housing. The terminals are configured to be provided with wire connecting screws accessible from the rear of the housing. The switch is thus explosion proof in construction and the rear mounted terminal screws avoid the possibility of shorting the live terminals to an associated metal electrical box. The switch is also readily constructed by known manufacturing methods and is capable of being directly installed in a standard electrical box thus avoiding the need for a separate explosion proof enclosure.