A safety guard or hand guard is a useful feature of any pole hedge trimmer, as it helps to shield your hands from the hedges, protecting your skin from thorns and other dangers, as well as protecting your hand from the blade itself and preventing your fingers from accidentally coming into contact with the mechanism. This is a very important part of any hedge trimmer and should always be used. You shouldn't remove the hand or safety guard of your pole hedge trimmer, as this will make the whole process much more dangerous. So be sure to always keep the safety guard attached.