[EricH]

I would shield it.

When you're testing in the pit, is there the possibility that someone isn't paying attention and puts a body part onto the chain while it's moving? (Hint: That's not actually a question.)

That being said, depending on the implementation, it might not need guarding.

Personally, not officially, I'd be thinking of lightweight guarding for it; officially I'd have to actually see it to determine.