AN ATR-72 FO REPORTED A NEAR PROP STRIKE WHILE PARKING. HE CRITICIZED RAMP PERSONNEL FOR NOT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES REGARDING EQUIPMENT WITHIN RED LINES.

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ON TAXIING IN TO GATE; I NOTED THAT A FUEL CART WAS INSIDE OF THE 'RED LINE' ON THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT WHERE THE PROP BLADE WOULD BE IF WE CONTINUED TAXIING IN. I STATED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO 'STOP THE ACFT UNTIL THE FUEL CART WAS MOVED.' THE CAPT ADVISED ME TO MONITOR THE PROP AND FUEL CART AND KEEP HIM ADVISED. FEELING STRONGLY ABOUT THE SITUATION; I ENDED UP STOPPING THE ACFT FT AWAY FROM A FUEL CART. RAMP CREWS KNOW THAT FUEL CARTS ARE NOT TO BE LEFT IN THE 'RED LINE' IN PROX OF THE PROP ARCH. HAD I NOT STOPPED THE PLANE OUR COMPANY WOULD HAVE HAD ITS SECOND PROP STRIKE WITHIN 1 1/2 YRS WITH A FUEL CART! IF I RECALL CORRECTLY; THAT PROP STRIKE 1 1/2 YRS AGO WAS WHY WE HAVE THE 'RED LINES' NOW. I MET WITH RAMP SUPVR AND THE RAMP MARSHALLER WHO MARSHALED OUR ACFT IN TO GATE. THE 3 OF US HAD A CALM CONVERSATION REGARDING THE LACK OF WORK ETHIC AND DANGER THAT RAMP PERSONNEL EXPOSED THEMSELVES AND OUR PAX TO BY NOT FOLLOWING PROPER PROCS. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES AND WATCHED THE LEAD MARSHALLER CONTINUE TO WAVE US IN. HE THREW A DISPLAY TANTRUM OF ANNOYANCE WHEN HE HAD TO BE BOTHERED WITH MOVING A FUEL CART OUT OF THE R PROP BLADE'S WAY. THE FUEL CART WAS FT AWAY FROM A STRIKE. I AM VERY BOTHERED THAT I HAD TO BE THE LAST LINK IN THE CHAIN YESTERDAY. I WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD BY MARSHALLER THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOVING THE FUEL CART AND NOT RAMP PERSONNEL. THIS ATTITUDE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ON THE RAMP. COMPANIES INVOLVED NEED TO REEDUCATE THE RAMP AND REAFFIRM THEIR PROCS. ANOTHER PLT OBSERVED WHAT HAPPENED FROM NEXT GATE AND CAN VERIFY HOW COMPLACENT AND DANGEROUS THE SITUATION WAS TODAY. COMPANY NEEDS TO TAKE NOTE OF THIS RPT AND ITS ASSOCIATED FORM AND COMMUNICATE WITH PARENT COMPANY THAT THEIR RAMPERS ARE CONSISTENTLY LEAVING OBJECTS WITHIN THE 'RED LINES.' THE COMPLACENCY ON THE CONCOURSE IS GETTING TO THE POINT THAT ITEMS ARE BEING LEFT NEAR THE RED MARKINGS THAT SHOULD GUARD THE PROP ARCHES OF INCOMING ATR'S. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE; COMPANY HAS A DANGEROUS ISSUE ON TERMINAL. THE GENERAL ATTITUDE OF RAMP PERSONNEL ON THIS ISSUE IS LACKADAISICAL AND NOT RESPECTFUL OF SAFETY. HAD A JUNIOR FO WITH LOW SELF ESTEEM AND EXPERIENCE BEEN SITTING IN THE R SEAT YESTERDAY; THE FLT WOULD HAVE STRUCK A FUEL CART.