Narrative:

After parking at the gate; my captain was in the process of feathering the propellers in preparation for shutting down when I witnessed the ramp agent; who had parked us; walk up to the aircraft and put the nosewheel chocks in before the propellers were feathered. This agent then proceeded to give us the chocks 'in' sign over his head as he was walking next to the aircraft in the propeller prohibited area. At this time the propellers were not feathered. I noticed that he was abeam the main cabin door walking toward the propeller with his head down not paying attention. I reached for the condition lever knocking the captain's hand out of the way and shoved the condition lever to fuel off. When the propeller feathered it caused the ramp agent to jump back in surprise. I believe that if the propeller feathering wouldn't have scared him he would have walked right into the propeller. This event occurred due to the lack of adherence to proper safety procedures on the ramp. Out of 8 turns into ZZZ on this trip; I only had 1 ramp agent wait to put the chocks in until the propellers were feathered. When I explain to a ramp agent why it is dangerous; they usually respond with that is the way they have always done it. I would like to see our procedures changed to where the captain gives the ramp agent a signal to put the chocks in after the propellers are feathered. This way; it would help to keep ramp agents away from the nose gear and propeller prohibited areas.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SF340 FO REPORTS RAMP AGENT NOT WAITING FOR PROPELLERS TO BE FEATHERED TO INSERT CHOCKS AND PROCEED TO THE CABIN DOOR.

Narrative: AFTER PARKING AT THE GATE; MY CAPT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FEATHERING THE PROPS IN PREPARATION FOR SHUTTING DOWN WHEN I WITNESSED THE RAMP AGENT; WHO HAD PARKED US; WALK UP TO THE ACFT AND PUT THE NOSEWHEEL CHOCKS IN BEFORE THE PROPS WERE FEATHERED. THIS AGENT THEN PROCEEDED TO GIVE US THE CHOCKS 'IN' SIGN OVER HIS HEAD AS HE WAS WALKING NEXT TO THE ACFT IN THE PROP PROHIBITED AREA. AT THIS TIME THE PROPS WERE NOT FEATHERED. I NOTICED THAT HE WAS ABEAM THE MAIN CABIN DOOR WALKING TOWARD THE PROP WITH HIS HEAD DOWN NOT PAYING ATTN. I REACHED FOR THE CONDITION LEVER KNOCKING THE CAPT'S HAND OUT OF THE WAY AND SHOVED THE CONDITION LEVER TO FUEL OFF. WHEN THE PROP FEATHERED IT CAUSED THE RAMP AGENT TO JUMP BACK IN SURPRISE. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE PROP FEATHERING WOULDN'T HAVE SCARED HIM HE WOULD HAVE WALKED RIGHT INTO THE PROP. THIS EVENT OCCURRED DUE TO THE LACK OF ADHERENCE TO PROPER SAFETY PROCS ON THE RAMP. OUT OF 8 TURNS INTO ZZZ ON THIS TRIP; I ONLY HAD 1 RAMP AGENT WAIT TO PUT THE CHOCKS IN UNTIL THE PROPS WERE FEATHERED. WHEN I EXPLAIN TO A RAMP AGENT WHY IT IS DANGEROUS; THEY USUALLY RESPOND WITH THAT IS THE WAY THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR PROCS CHANGED TO WHERE THE CAPT GIVES THE RAMP AGENT A SIGNAL TO PUT THE CHOCKS IN AFTER THE PROPS ARE FEATHERED. THIS WAY; IT WOULD HELP TO KEEP RAMP AGENTS AWAY FROM THE NOSE GEAR AND PROP PROHIBITED AREAS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.