DAMAGE RESULTED WHEN GND CREW PLACED A TFC CONE IN FRONT OF RUNNING ENG OF PARKED B737-300 RESULTING IN CONE BEING INGESTED INTO #2 ENG.

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WE ARRIVED AT THE GATE IN JFK. THE SAFETY ZONE WAS CLEAR AND WE PARKED AT THE GATE. WITH PARKING BRAKE SET AND THE ROTATING BEACON STILL ON; THE #1 ENG WAS SHUT DOWN AND THE JETWAY WAS MOVED INTO POSITION. THE #2 ENG COULD NOT BE SHUT DOWN UNTIL AFTER GND POWER WAS CONNECTED SINCE THE ACFT WAS DISPATCHED WITH AN INOP APU. ON OUR IN RANGE CALL WE LET JFK OPS KNOW THAT OUR APU WAS INOP AND WE WOULD NEED GND POWER BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN ALL ENGS AT THE GATE. A CONTRACT RAMP EMPLOYEE STOOD IN FRONT OF THE #2 ENG (APPARENTLY LESS THAN 3 FT FROM FRONT OF THE COWLING); WHICH WAS STILL RUNNING; AND TRIED TO PLACE A RUBBER SAFETY CONE IN FRONT OF THE RUNNING ENG. THE SAFETY CONE WAS INGESTED INTO THE #2 ENG AND PIECES WERE EXPELLED OUT THE BACK 50 FT AS WELL AS PIECES WHICH REMAINED IN SEVERAL OF THE ENG SECTIONS. WE PERFORMED A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ENG AFTER SHUTDOWN AND TRIED TO CONFER WITH RAMP PERSONNEL REGARDING THIS EVENT; HOWEVER; THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH AND APPEARED TO BE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 679558: I UNDERSTAND BEING COST EFFECTIVE IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THIS INDUSTRY; BUT SHOULD NOT COME AT THE COST OF SAFETY. ALL RAMPERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO READ; SPEAK; AND UNDERSTAND ENGLISH!!!!