Before engaging in beverage preparation or ice handling, what is a mandatory action?

The mandatory action before engaging in beverage preparation or ice handling is to wash your hands. This is crucial for ensuring hygiene and preventing the risk of contaminating the beverages or the ice. Handwashing is a fundamental practice that helps maintain food safety standards, thereby protecting the health of passengers and crew alike. Properly washing hands effectively removes dirt, bacteria, and any potential pathogens, which is vital when handling items that will be consumed.

While putting on gloves is important for cleanliness, it is not a replacement for handwashing; gloves can become contaminated if proper hygiene practices aren't followed first. Checking the beverage inventory is certainly necessary for service efficiency but is not a hygiene action. Cleaning the serving tray is part of maintaining a clean environment, yet it does not specifically address the immediate concern of personal hygiene before food or beverage handling. Thus, washing hands stands out as the essential prerequisite to ensure safe beverage preparation and handling.