2017298540 A1 abstract the invention relates to a method for operating a bale opener having a stripping element and a safety device for protection against penetration into a hazardous zone of the stripping element said safety device consisting of sensory safety means wherein a monitoring region at the front beneath the stripping element is detected and wherein the stripping element is mounted on a stripping tower according to the invention the safety device is at least one two dimensional laser scanner on which at least one monitoring region which is adjustable and variable over time is monitored the invention also relates to a corresponding bale opener application_number US 201715486370 A description the invention is thus based on the object of creating a method for operating a bale opener and such a bale opener that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art the invention is also based on the object of creating a method for operating a bale opener and such a bale opener which are less susceptible to interference more reliable and less expensive than the methods and the systems offered in the prior art the invention is also based on the object of creating a method for operating a bale opener and such a bale opening which can be used as collision monitoring in rotation of the stripping element these objects are achieved by a method and a bale opener corresponding to the preamble of the independent claims which are characterized in that the safety equipment comprises at least one two dimensional laser scanner on which at least one monitoring area that is adjustable and variable over time is monitored these objects are also achieved first by a computer program product which can be loaded directly into an internal memory of a bale opener and.