B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
We flew with a deferred APU. When we got to ZZZ; we shut down the #2 engine and kept the #1 engine running until the ground crew could plug in ground power. With the beacon still on; and the #1 engine running; some of the ground handlers proceeded to approach the aircraft on the left side of the aircraft as well; putting them in an unsafe vicinity to the still operating engine. After the ground crew plugged in ground power; we shut the #1 engine down; and completed the shutdown checklist. My captain asked to speak with their supervisor to address the safety concerns of the ground handlers approaching the aircraft with the beacon on and the #1 engine running. They said that it was their procedure to chalk the aircraft and seemed indifferent to the fact that the engine was still running when they approached the aircraft. Stress the importance of respecting the aircraft beacon and not approaching the side of the aircraft that has an engine running to the ground crews. Include training about related irregular procedures; such as an APU deferral; so they can be better prepared for it and not put themselves in an unsafe position.
I talked with the supervisor on the ramp and discussed the safety concerns of personnel and equipment in the vicinity of a running engine. During this conversation the supervisor said this movement was necessary to chock the aircraft.Prior to departure the operational requirements of an imperative APU was discussed with dispatch and we requested that ZZZ ground handling be notified and ready. Dispatch confirmed that ZZZ ground handlers were being notified. Equipment and personnel not properly positioned and ready for an arriving aircraft with an inoperative APU. Lack of concern or knowledge of the hazards involved while working in the vicinity or a running jet engine.The movement of personnel and equipment could be reduced by having the wheel chocks and GPU staged in position and ready before the aircraft is parked as it is done every night on the ramp at [our departure airport]. Also the air stairs and equipment should be held well clear of the aircraft until the both engines are shut down and the red anti-collision is turned off.
B737 flight crew reported ground personnel approached the aircraft to install chocks and position stairs with the #1 engine running and the beacon on.