B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 16000; Flight Crew Type 4700
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Company Policy
Blocked in gate with left engine running due to deferred APU [with the] beacon still on. Had to wait (not long) for loading bridge to be positioned at door 1L before external power cord could be extended and connected to shutdown running engine. Ramp opened cargo doors to begin unloading with engine still running and beacon on. After shutdown and checklists; I went down to the ramp to discuss my concerns about opening the door before engine shutdown with the ramp crew. Ramp Lead told me they were allowed 3 minutes from block in to start scanning bags coming off the plane. Safety and schedule are in major conflict here. Further; the decision to continue this plane along its routing with the INOP APU raises the possibility of damage or injury along the way.
B737 Captain reported ramp personnel opened the cargo door with the left engine still running.