Air Carrier flight crew reported they began to taxi with ground personnel still under the aircraft before receiving the salute.
Synopsis
Air Carrier flight crew reported they began to taxi with ground personnel still under the aircraft before receiving the salute.
Narrative
After pushback; I was just about to start taxi after completing the flight control check. We cleared left; right; and in front and I turned on taxi light before releasing parking brake. Just as we started to roll forward; one of the rampers who was unseen underneath the nose quickly came into view to hold the X's with her wands. I immediately reapplied parking brake and stopped as we had just very slightly began to roll forward. They had already disconnected tow bar but had not moved the tug back and given the usual clap or salute yet. Afterward they drove away in the tug and we taxied out normally without incident.Cause: I take full responsibility. In my mind; I thought the salute had already happened since we just did the flight control check and everything was clear in front and to the left and right. I even said clear left and FO said clear right after the typical flaps set and nose wheel steering engaged response and he raised no objections which also gave me false impression everything was normal.No ramper up front in view holding the X at any point. My usual routine was also disrupted due to maintenance because of a tripped remote CB (Circuit breaker) EICAS msg during airplane power up. I spent most of the pre-flight time coordinating with Maintenance Control and talking to Maintenance who came on board to trouble shoot. By the time they finished and the issue was solved; we still had a chance to get out on time and I did all my required checks but at a quicker than usual pace. Normally I never change my pace but I think the fact it was Day 0 also factored into me wanting no delays if we could help to get people to not miss their connections in ZZZ.Suggestions: ALWAYS stay at my slower deliberate pace no matter the circumstance; change of routine or external/internal pressure. Never start my flight control check before strap; clap and salute received. Have more than 2 ground personnel pushing an airplane. I'm typically used to a 3 person crew minimum and having the third person in view in front holding the X at all times would have helped. Having a flag on back of tug at SGF would help too because there was nothing in field of view in front of us.
Second reporter narrative
After pushback; we were about to start taxi after control check. I had been looking down for the past minute or so while I started engine 1. I also grabbed the new ATIS; it changed since we had pushed. We cleared left; right; and in front and Captain turned on taxi light before releasing parking brake. Just as we started to roll forward; one of the rampers who was unseen underneath the nose quickly came into view to hold the X's with her wands. Captain set the parking brake again. The tow bar had been disconnected and there was no personnel or equipment damage. we saw the ground crew leave afterwards and continue our flight with normality.Cause: Distraction from my side. I had been looking inside for the engine start and weather update and lost track of the rampers. When my Captain calls for 'flaps 2; taxi' I did my part and we cleared left front right and saw nobody. Both ground crews were under the nose; and we didn't have the X up.Suggestions: Slow down. Why start the engine while pushing? That's going to force one to be looking inside monitoring instruments and not being able to look outside. If I didn't see the salute due to my other duties and the other person finds themselves doing other tasks as well these things can be missed and the possible outcome is far worse.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.