Final answer:
The correct action is to rinse the plates with water before loading them into a dishwasher to ensure that leftover food is removed and that the detergent can properly clean the surfaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a food worker has several dirty plates and needs to start a dishwashing cycle, the appropriate action would be to rinse the plates with water before loading. This is necessary because all detergents are designed to be used after the user has scraped leftover food from the dishes. It is essential for the surface of all dishes to be open to the flow of water to ensure they are effectively cleaned in the dishwasher. Merely rinsing dishes with water may leave an oily film, as water alone is not effective in cleaning oil due to lack of surfactants, which are used in detergents to reduce surface tension and increase the solubility, allowing for a proper clean. Hand dishwashing detergents and the mechanics of a dishwasher work together to effectively remove such residues.