A bale removal machine having sensory control protective apparatus and a process for the sensory control of the protective apparatus. During at least an initial pass of the bale removal machine along a row of bales, at least one control sensor scans and monitors an area located in the feed direction of the removal member of the machine. If the evaluating unit connected to the control sensors detects a bale, the protective curtains are deactivated immediately before a bale is detected by same. In subsequent removal passes, the protective curtains are activated and deactivated as a function of the known bale profile and/or the control sensor or sensors. If presence of a foreign object, particularly a person, is detected, protective measures are initiated by the protective curtains.