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Exam Review

Key Facts: HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher Exam

8 hrs / 12 mo

Refresher Requirement

29 CFR 1910.120(e)(8)

70%

Typical Provider Pass Score

Online HAZWOPER training providers

19.5%

Oxygen-Deficiency Threshold

29 CFR 1910.134

>25% LEL

Withdraw - Explosion Hazard

NIOSH/OSHA/USCG/EPA Guidance Manual

30 days/yr

Medical Surveillance Exposure Trigger

29 CFR 1910.120(f)(2)

Employment + 30 yrs

Medical Record Retention

29 CFR 1910.1020

$40-$80

Typical Online Course Fee

Provider price ranges (2026)

Every HAZWOPER-certified site worker - whether trained at the 40-hour general site worker tier or the 24-hour occasional worker tier - must complete 8 hours of refresher training every 12 months under 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(8). The refresher revisits the core curriculum: the five operations covered by 1910.120, exposure limits (PEL, STEL, ceiling, IDLH), PPE Levels A-D and the APR use criteria, the 19.5% oxygen-deficiency threshold, CGI action levels (withdraw above 25% LEL), the three work zones and buddy system, decon line design with respirator-last doffing, the five emergency responder levels, drum handling, and medical surveillance triggers including the 30-day exposure thresholds. The standard itself names critiques of past-year incidents as refresher content. OSHA prescribes no exam; providers typically require about 70% on a final quiz of roughly 15 questions. A lapsed refresher should be made up as soon as possible, and the employer decides whether a long lapse warrants repeating initial training. These 100 questions mirror provider final exams and 1910.120's most-tested rules.

Sample HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(8), how much refresher training must HAZWOPER-certified site workers receive, and how often?

A.4 hours every 6 months

B.24 hours every 3 years

C.8 hours every 12 months

D.16 hours every 24 months

Explanation: 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(8) requires workers covered by paragraph (e) to receive eight hours of refresher training annually on the items in (e)(2) and/or (e)(4), critiques of incidents from the past year, and other relevant topics.

2What initial training does 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(3)(i) require for general site workers engaged in hazardous substance removal with potential exposure to hazardous substances?

A.24 hours of instruction plus 1 day of supervised field experience

B.40 hours of off-site instruction plus 3 days of supervised field experience

C.8 hours of classroom training plus a written exam

D.80 hours of instruction plus 5 days of supervised field experience

Explanation: General site workers must receive a minimum of 40 hours of instruction off the site plus a minimum of three days of actual field experience under the direct supervision of a trained, experienced supervisor per 1910.120(e)(3)(i).

3Under 1910.120(e)(3)(ii), a worker may qualify with only 24 hours of initial training and one day of field experience when which condition applies?

A.The worker is on site only occasionally for a specific limited task and is unlikely to be exposed over permissible exposure limits

B.The worker has at least five years of construction experience

C.The worker will always be accompanied by a supervisor with 40-hour training

D.The worker only enters the site during daylight hours

Explanation: 1910.120(e)(3)(ii) allows 24 hours of instruction plus one day of supervised field experience for workers on site only occasionally for a specific limited task (such as groundwater monitoring or land surveying) who are unlikely to be exposed over PELs or other published exposure limits.

4How much additional specialized training must on-site managers and supervisors directly responsible for site workers receive under 1910.120(e)(4)?

A.No additional training beyond the worker level

B.2 hours of leadership training

C.40 additional hours of instruction

D.At least 8 additional hours of specialized hazardous waste management training

Explanation: 1910.120(e)(4) requires supervisors to complete the same training as the workers they supervise plus at least eight additional hours of specialized training on managing hazardous waste operations, including the safety and health program, PPE program, and spill containment program.

5May the 8-hour annual refresher be delivered in shorter segments rather than a single session?

A.No, OSHA requires one continuous 8-hour class

B.Yes, as long as the full 8 hours are completed by the employee's anniversary date

C.Yes, but only if each segment is at least 4 hours long

D.No, unless the employer obtains a written OSHA variance

Explanation: OSHA interpretation letters confirm refresher training may be given in segments, provided the employee completes the required eight hours by his or her anniversary date for the training.

6A site worker's annual refresher lapsed five months ago. According to OSHA guidance, what should happen?

A.The worker is permanently disqualified from HAZWOPER work

B.The worker may keep working as long as a refresher is scheduled within 12 months

C.The worker should take the refresher as soon as possible, and the employer must evaluate whether the lapse warrants repeating initial training

D.The worker automatically reverts to the 24-hour tier

Explanation: OSHA interpretations state that an employee who misses the annual refresher should attend the next available session as soon as possible, and the need to repeat initial training is determined by the employer based on the length of the lapse and the employee's familiarity with site work.

7Which of the following operations is NOT covered by the HAZWOPER standard under 1910.120(a)(1)?

A.Corrective actions involving clean-up at RCRA-regulated facilities

B.Emergency response to releases of hazardous substances regardless of location

C.Voluntary clean-up at government-recognized uncontrolled hazardous waste sites

D.Routine warehouse storage of sealed, intact consumer chemical products with no release threat

Explanation: 1910.120(a)(1) covers five operations: government-mandated clean-ups at uncontrolled sites, RCRA corrective actions, voluntary clean-ups at recognized uncontrolled sites, TSD facility operations, and emergency response to releases. Routine handling of intact containers posing no release emergency is outside HAZWOPER scope.

8Which regulation extends HAZWOPER-equivalent protection to state and local government employees in states that do NOT have an OSHA-approved state plan?

A.EPA regulation 40 CFR Part 311

B.DOT regulation 49 CFR Part 172

C.NFPA 472

D.29 CFR 1926.65

Explanation: EPA's 40 CFR Part 311 applies the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120 to state and local government employees, such as public-sector firefighters, in states without OSHA-approved state plans where federal OSHA cannot cover them.

9Which of the following is a required element of a site-specific health and safety plan (HASP) under 1910.120(b)(4)(ii)?

A.The site's projected production quotas

B.Decontamination procedures

C.Workers' compensation insurance rates

D.A list of subcontractor bid amounts

Explanation: The HASP must address hazard analysis, employee training assignments, PPE, medical surveillance, air monitoring frequency and types, site control measures, decontamination procedures, the emergency response plan, confined space entry procedures, and a spill containment program per 1910.120(b)(4)(ii).

10Where must the site-specific safety and health plan be kept so it can be used during hazardous waste operations?

A.At corporate headquarters only

B.Filed with the nearest OSHA area office

C.On site, available to employees, contractors, and regulators

D.In the site owner's legal archives

Explanation: 1910.120(b)(4) requires the site safety and health plan to be kept on site, where it addresses the safety and health hazards of each phase of operation and is available for inspection.

About the HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher Exam

The HAZWOPER 8-Hour Annual Refresher is required by 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(8) for every worker who holds 40-hour or 24-hour HAZWOPER certification for hazardous waste site work. The refresher reviews the initial curriculum - hazard recognition, PPE and respiratory protection, air monitoring, site control, decontamination, and emergency procedures - along with regulatory updates and critiques of incidents from the past year. Training may be completed online or in a classroom and may be split into segments, as long as all 8 hours are finished by the worker's anniversary date. Most online courses end with a short multiple-choice final exam, commonly around 15 questions with a 70% pass mark set by the provider.

Exam sponsor: Independent training providers; OSHA neither delivers courses nor issues cards. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

8 hours of instruction; may be delivered in segments before the anniversary date

Passing Score

70% on most provider final exams (OSHA does not set a score)

Exam / Certification Fees

$40-$80 for typical online courses (varies by provider)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

15%

HAZWOPER Regulations & Training Requirements

1910.120 scope and the five covered operations, 40/24-hour initial training tiers, 8-hour annual refresher under (e)(8), supervisor training, TSD facilities under (p), HASP elements, lapsed-training guidance, EPA 40 CFR 311

16%

Hazard Recognition & Toxicology

Routes of exposure, acute vs chronic effects, PEL/TLV/STEL/ceiling/IDLH limits, LD50 and synergism, NFPA 704 diamond, GHS labels and 16-section SDS, flammable range (LEL/UEL), flash point, H2S warning-property failure

18%

PPE & Respiratory Protection

Levels A through D selection criteria, APR use conditions and IDLH prohibition, SCBA requirements, 19.5% oxygen threshold, annual fit testing and seal checks, assigned protection factors, permeation, penetration, degradation, breakthrough time, cartridge change schedules

15%

Air Monitoring & Site Control

Initial-entry and periodic monitoring under 1910.120(h), oxygen-flammable-toxic testing order, CGI %LEL action levels (10%/25%), PID lamp limitations, detector tube accuracy, exclusion/contamination reduction/support zones, hotline, buddy system, breathing-zone sampling

12%

Decontamination Procedures

Decon plan timing under (k)(2), contamination reduction corridor layout, station sequence from dirty to clean, doffing order with respirator last, emergency decon vs life-saving care, wash solutions, dry decon for water-reactive contaminants, swipe testing, contaminated PPE disposal

14%

Emergency Response & Spill Control

Five responder levels under (q)(6) from awareness to incident commander, ICS command rules, emergency response plan elements, 1910.38 evacuation-only option, skilled support personnel briefings, defensive vs offensive control, ERG sections, drum handling under (j), post-emergency cleanup

10%

Medical Surveillance & Worker Health

Coverage criteria under (f)(2) including the 30-day thresholds, annual exam frequency, physician written opinion limits, 30-year record retention under 1910.1020, heat stroke recognition, heat stress controls in impermeable suits, symptom reporting and exposure-triggered exams

Preparing for the HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70% on most provider final exams (OSHA does not set a score)
Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
Time limit: 8 hours of instruction; may be delivered in segments before the anniversary date
Exam / certification fees: $40-$80 for typical online courses (varies by provider) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorize the training matrix: 40 hours plus 3 field days for general site workers, 24 hours plus 1 field day for occasional low-exposure workers, 8 extra hours for supervisors, and 8 refresher hours annually for everyone under (e)(8)

2Anchor the PPE levels to their respirators: Levels A and B both use positive-pressure SCBA (A adds a vapor-tight encapsulating suit), Level C means an air-purifying respirator with known contaminants below IDLH, and Level D is a basic work uniform with no respiratory hazard

3Know the air monitoring numbers cold: oxygen-deficient below 19.5%, oxygen-enriched above 23.5%, normal air 20.9%, continue with extreme caution at 10-25% LEL, and withdraw above 25% LEL

4Test atmospheres in the fixed order oxygen, then flammables, then toxics - CGI readings are unreliable in oxygen-deficient air, which is why oxygen comes first

5Walk the decon line mentally: stations run from most to least contaminated inside the contamination reduction corridor, outer boots and gloves come off early, and the respirator always comes off last

6Distinguish the five responder levels by action verbs: awareness notifies, operations defends (dike, dam, divert, absorb), technicians stop the release (plug and patch), specialists advise, and incident commanders need 24 hours of operations-equivalent training plus ICS competency

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs the HAZWOPER 8-hour annual refresher?

Every worker certified under 29 CFR 1910.120(e) - both 40-hour general site workers and 24-hour occasional workers - must complete 8 hours of refresher training every 12 months. TSD facility workers covered by paragraph (p) also have an 8-hour annual refresher, and emergency responders under (q)(8) must refresh or demonstrate competency yearly.

Can the 8 hours be split into shorter sessions?

Yes. OSHA interpretation letters confirm refresher training may be given in segments, as long as the employee completes the full 8 hours by his or her anniversary date for the training.

What happens if my HAZWOPER refresher expires?

OSHA guidance says a worker who misses the annual refresher should take it as soon as possible. Whether a long lapse requires repeating the full initial 40-hour or 24-hour course is the employer's judgment, based on the length of the lapse and the worker's continuing familiarity with site work.

Is there an official OSHA exam for the refresher?

No. OSHA mandates the 8 training hours and content categories but prescribes no exam, passing score, or card. Training providers certify completion, and most online courses use module quizzes plus a final exam of roughly 15 questions with a 70% pass mark.

What topics does the refresher cover?

1910.120(e)(8) requires review of the initial-training topics plus any critique of incidents from the past year. Quality courses cover regulatory updates, hazard recognition and toxicology, PPE Levels A-D and respiratory protection, air monitoring instruments and action levels, the three work zones, decontamination lines, emergency response levels, and medical surveillance.

How much does the 8-hour refresher cost?

Online courses typically run $40-$80 per worker. Employer-delivered or classroom options vary; the employer is responsible for ensuring covered workers receive the training.

Does the refresher cover both site workers and emergency responders?

Paragraph (e)(8) covers clean-up site workers, who need exactly 8 hours annually. Emergency responders under paragraph (q)(8) must receive annual refresher training of sufficient content and duration to maintain competency, or demonstrate competency yearly - the 8-hour figure is not mandated for them, though many employers use an 8-hour course for both groups.