Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
While in flight deck area we were advised by maintenance personnel that they were working on a tire change. They had the cockpit placarded against using systems and verbally requested we not board or use the APU. We relayed this information to our flight attendants. After about 20 minutes the lead flight attendant notified us that the gate agent had received word from maintenance that we could begin boarding and that it was in process. About one minute later a maintenance worker came into the flight deck and wanted to know why we had begun to board when he had previously told us not to. He said someone could get killed. The Captain advised him that we were told by the lead flight attendant that the gate agent said maintenance had told her it was ok to board. I then left the flight deck and went to the gate to speak with the agent. I notified the agent that they were not to board. Maintenance was still changing a tire and the plane was on jacks and the maintenance crew said someone could be hurt or killed if the jack failed.I feel that there is too much pressure to get the plane out on time. If the gate agent had spoken with the cockpit crew or field maintenance with his boarding concerns instead of relying on a third party to expedite boarding he would have realized that by boarding passengers he could negatively affect safety. There was clearly a placard in the flight deck and maintenance personnel were on the ground and in and out of the aircraft several times.There needs to be better communication between the agents who are always pushing to board; the mechanics who need time to do their job; and the pilots who are trying to complete their preflight duties while coordinating with all the parties. Ground maintenance should be the ones to notify the tower when they are done.  Ground maintenance should then contact the flight crew to say they are going to allow boarding. Then the agent should be notified to board. Why are we in a hurry to get someone hurt?  Maintenance needs to be done and done safely. The flight was already late. Boarding should NOT be the priority. Safety should be the priority and the flight crew should be notified directly by maintenance before an agent begins boarding.
Air Carrier First Officer reported a gate agent started to board a flight even though Maintenance had requested the aircraft not be boarded until a tire change was completed.