EPA RISK ASSESSOR EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | 100%
CORRECT.
Risk Assessment - ANS An on-site investigation of a residential dwelling for lead-based paint
hazards. Risk assessment includes investigating the age, history, management and maintenance
of the dwelling; conducting a visual assessment, performing limited environmental sampling,
such as dust wipe samples, soil samples, and deteriorated paint samples, and reporting the
results that identify acceptable abatement and interim control strategies based on specific
conditions and the owner's capabilities.
Inspection - ANS A surface-by-surface investigation for determining the presence of lead-
based paint (and in some cases, sampling for lead in dust and soil) and a report of the results.
Lead-based paint hazard - ANS Any condition that causes exposure to lead from lead
contaminated dust, lead-contaminated soil, deteriorated lead-based paint, or from lead-based
paint present on accessible, friction, or impact surfaces would result in adverse human health
effects.
Primary Prevention - ANS Lead-based paint risk assessments and/or inspections and
abatement and/or interim controls in housing before children are lead poisoned.
Secondary Prevention - ANS Blood lead screening programs to identify children who already
have elevated blood lead levels.
Tertiary Prevention - ANS Medical treatment/ management of children to prevent acute
injuries or death from lead poisoning.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 37
,What was the purpose of Title X legislation? (4) - ANS 2-20
What is the historical importance of Housing Authority Risk Retention Group (HARGG)? -
ANS 2-20
What's the difference between a lead inspection and a risk assessment? - ANS 2-20, 3-5
What are the 7 steps of the Risk Assessment process? - ANS 1. Obtain background
information
2. Determine the most appropriate evaluation process for the owner's dwelling(s)
3. Schedule the site visit
4. Conduct the evaluation (including visual assessment and environmental sampling)
5. Determine the actual hazards (if any)
6. Identify options for reducing or eliminating these hazards
7. Produce a written report
What are four other types of assessments? - ANS 1. Lead hazard screen
2. Combination risk assessment
3. Clearance
4. EBL Child Investigation
Lead Hazard Screen - ANS 2-21
A "negative screen"- a limited set of risk assessment procedures that may act to exempt a
dwelling from the full risk assessment requirements.
Combination Risk Assessment - ANS 2-21
EBL Child Investigation - ANS 2-21
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 37
,Title X (199_) - ANS 1992. Residential Lead based Paint Hazard Reduction Act
3 Sources of Legal Liability - ANS Statutory law, administrative law, and common law
LBPPPA (19__) - ANS 1971 Lead-based Poisoning Prevention Act
Tort Law - ANS Civil "wrong" or breach of a standard behavior or failure to use reasonable
care for which a court orders a monetary remedy called "damages".
Contract Law - ANS Relates to situations in which a person breaks or "breaches" a legally
enforceable written or oral agreement or contract. Court can order remedies like monetary
damages.
Name 2 examples of liability under Tort Law: - ANS Negligence
Vicarious Liability
Negligence - ANS Failure to fulfill all of your duties/ failure to exercise the standard of care to
which a reasonable Risk Assessor or contractor would adhere.
Vicarious Liability - ANS Employer is legally responsible for the acts, ommissions and
wrongful behavior (torts) of his/her employees.
Plaintiff needs to prove 4 elements:
1. Act or omission
2. Duty
3. Cause
4. Injury
Indemnification - ANS 2-27
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 37
, What are at least 4 principles risk assessors should follow to avoid legal liability under tort law? -
ANS 2-26 E.g. document everything, never say anything is "lead free", say that a risk
assessment only applies to the present status of the property, keep records
Describe at least four important objectives of the initial property owner contact prior to
conducting risk assessment? - ANS 3-18
What are the 5 different evaluation options that can be recommended to the property owner? -
ANS Combination risk assessment/ inspection
Risk assessment
Paint inspection
lead hazard Screen
Investigation for EBL
What are 6 different motivating factors that affect what type of evaluation option to choose? -
ANS 3-18 E.g. legal requirement, liability issues, preventative measures, response to a lead
poisoning case
What's the difference between a risk assessment and an EBL child investigation? - ANS 3-8, 3-
9
T/F: The risk assessor should be involved in the process of selecting a contractor. - ANS False
How long does visual assessment and sampling take? - ANS 45 minutes - 3 hours
T/F: Risk assessors should always go ahead and educate the tenants about lead poisoning. -
ANS False
What are the benefits of preliminary data collection to assist risk assessment? - ANS 3-13
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 37
AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | 100%
CORRECT.
Risk Assessment - ANS An on-site investigation of a residential dwelling for lead-based paint
hazards. Risk assessment includes investigating the age, history, management and maintenance
of the dwelling; conducting a visual assessment, performing limited environmental sampling,
such as dust wipe samples, soil samples, and deteriorated paint samples, and reporting the
results that identify acceptable abatement and interim control strategies based on specific
conditions and the owner's capabilities.
Inspection - ANS A surface-by-surface investigation for determining the presence of lead-
based paint (and in some cases, sampling for lead in dust and soil) and a report of the results.
Lead-based paint hazard - ANS Any condition that causes exposure to lead from lead
contaminated dust, lead-contaminated soil, deteriorated lead-based paint, or from lead-based
paint present on accessible, friction, or impact surfaces would result in adverse human health
effects.
Primary Prevention - ANS Lead-based paint risk assessments and/or inspections and
abatement and/or interim controls in housing before children are lead poisoned.
Secondary Prevention - ANS Blood lead screening programs to identify children who already
have elevated blood lead levels.
Tertiary Prevention - ANS Medical treatment/ management of children to prevent acute
injuries or death from lead poisoning.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 37
,What was the purpose of Title X legislation? (4) - ANS 2-20
What is the historical importance of Housing Authority Risk Retention Group (HARGG)? -
ANS 2-20
What's the difference between a lead inspection and a risk assessment? - ANS 2-20, 3-5
What are the 7 steps of the Risk Assessment process? - ANS 1. Obtain background
information
2. Determine the most appropriate evaluation process for the owner's dwelling(s)
3. Schedule the site visit
4. Conduct the evaluation (including visual assessment and environmental sampling)
5. Determine the actual hazards (if any)
6. Identify options for reducing or eliminating these hazards
7. Produce a written report
What are four other types of assessments? - ANS 1. Lead hazard screen
2. Combination risk assessment
3. Clearance
4. EBL Child Investigation
Lead Hazard Screen - ANS 2-21
A "negative screen"- a limited set of risk assessment procedures that may act to exempt a
dwelling from the full risk assessment requirements.
Combination Risk Assessment - ANS 2-21
EBL Child Investigation - ANS 2-21
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 37
,Title X (199_) - ANS 1992. Residential Lead based Paint Hazard Reduction Act
3 Sources of Legal Liability - ANS Statutory law, administrative law, and common law
LBPPPA (19__) - ANS 1971 Lead-based Poisoning Prevention Act
Tort Law - ANS Civil "wrong" or breach of a standard behavior or failure to use reasonable
care for which a court orders a monetary remedy called "damages".
Contract Law - ANS Relates to situations in which a person breaks or "breaches" a legally
enforceable written or oral agreement or contract. Court can order remedies like monetary
damages.
Name 2 examples of liability under Tort Law: - ANS Negligence
Vicarious Liability
Negligence - ANS Failure to fulfill all of your duties/ failure to exercise the standard of care to
which a reasonable Risk Assessor or contractor would adhere.
Vicarious Liability - ANS Employer is legally responsible for the acts, ommissions and
wrongful behavior (torts) of his/her employees.
Plaintiff needs to prove 4 elements:
1. Act or omission
2. Duty
3. Cause
4. Injury
Indemnification - ANS 2-27
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 37
, What are at least 4 principles risk assessors should follow to avoid legal liability under tort law? -
ANS 2-26 E.g. document everything, never say anything is "lead free", say that a risk
assessment only applies to the present status of the property, keep records
Describe at least four important objectives of the initial property owner contact prior to
conducting risk assessment? - ANS 3-18
What are the 5 different evaluation options that can be recommended to the property owner? -
ANS Combination risk assessment/ inspection
Risk assessment
Paint inspection
lead hazard Screen
Investigation for EBL
What are 6 different motivating factors that affect what type of evaluation option to choose? -
ANS 3-18 E.g. legal requirement, liability issues, preventative measures, response to a lead
poisoning case
What's the difference between a risk assessment and an EBL child investigation? - ANS 3-8, 3-
9
T/F: The risk assessor should be involved in the process of selecting a contractor. - ANS False
How long does visual assessment and sampling take? - ANS 45 minutes - 3 hours
T/F: Risk assessors should always go ahead and educate the tenants about lead poisoning. -
ANS False
What are the benefits of preliminary data collection to assist risk assessment? - ANS 3-13
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 37
