The bale opener has mechanical and/or sensor-type protection means. The mechanical protection means screen off a monitoring zone in a region laterally below and/or frontally below or directly below the opening member (4). The sensor-type protection means cover a monitoring zone laterally below and/or frontally below or directly below the opening member (4). The mechanical and sensor-type protection means can be used alone or in combination. Together they form an approximately continuous monitoring zone around the danger region (18) of the opening member (4). <IMAGE>
