B737-800
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 135; Flight Crew Type 2550
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Staffing
Shortly after arriving at the aircraft; I began conducting my walkaround. As I was walking from the nose of the aircraft towards the right side of the aircraft; I witnessed the (Contract Fueler) actively talking on his phone. He was using wireless earbuds and was having a full conversation with the person on the phone. I completed my walkaround while monitoring him talking on the phone the entire time. I finished my walkaround and approached him as he was walking away from the aircraft. I told him he couldn't be on the phone while fueling. He smiled and said; 'I'm outside.' I repeated my remark; and he merely repeated himself while pointing to the aircraft; smiling even more than he was before. At first his response didn't make sense; but it became obvious he couldn't speak English and was trying to say he was now away from the aircraft; so I caught him after the fact. He walked away and sat on the concourse exterior stairs and continued his telephone conversation. He never ended his phone call; took his earbuds out; or showed remorse or sense of wrongdoing. I find this action to be incredibly unprofessional and unsafe. Not only was he preoccupied with his phone call; while he should be focused on flight line duties; but he's endangering everyone's life by emitting electro-static electricity while fueling the aircraft. This is clearly not a skill problem; but a will problem. I think this gentleman should be fired and replaced with someone with the discipline and maturity to handle a job with such dire consequences for failing to meet safety standards. I also think Company should cease business with (Contract Fueler) within the United States.
B737 First Officer reported that the contract fueler refused to stop his cellphone call while fueling and did not understand English.