Narrative:

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.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reported ground personnel approached the aircraft to install chocks and position stairs with the #1 engine running and the beacon on.

Narrative: 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.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.