diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index 12be5670..670c6656 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -322,6 +322,8 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef, ModerationQueuePro
           onSortChange={queueManager.filters.setSortConfig}
           onClearFilters={queueManager.filters.clearFilters}
           showClearButton={queueManager.filters.hasActiveFilters}
+          onRefresh={queueManager.refresh}
+          isRefreshing={queueManager.loadingState === 'refreshing'}
         />
       
       {/* Active Filters Display */}
diff --git a/src/components/moderation/NewItemsAlert.tsx b/src/components/moderation/NewItemsAlert.tsx
index 8c5b8a89..03164aa4 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/NewItemsAlert.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/NewItemsAlert.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import { AlertCircle, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
+import { AlertCircle } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Alert, AlertDescription, AlertTitle } from '@/components/ui/alert';
-import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { ShowNewItemsButton } from './show-new-items-button';
 
 interface NewItemsAlertProps {
   count: number;
@@ -18,15 +18,10 @@ export const NewItemsAlert = ({ count, onShowNewItems, visible = true }: NewItem
         <AlertTitle>New Items Available</AlertTitle>
         <AlertDescription className="flex items-center justify-between">
           <span>{count} new {count === 1 ? 'submission' : 'submissions'} pending review</span>
-          <Button
-            variant="default"
-            size="sm"
-            onClick={onShowNewItems}
-            className="ml-4"
-          >
-            <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
-            Show New Items
-          </Button>
+          <ShowNewItemsButton
+            count={count}
+            onShow={onShowNewItems}
+          />
         </AlertDescription>
       </Alert>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/components/moderation/QueueFilters.tsx b/src/components/moderation/QueueFilters.tsx
index 1b34771d..188068bd 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/QueueFilters.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/QueueFilters.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from '@
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
 import { Collapsible, CollapsibleContent, CollapsibleTrigger } from '@/components/ui/collapsible';
+import { RefreshButton } from '@/components/ui/refresh-button';
 import { QueueSortControls } from './QueueSortControls';
 import { useFilterPanelState } from '@/hooks/useFilterPanelState';
 import type { EntityFilter, StatusFilter, SortConfig } from '@/types/moderation';
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ interface QueueFiltersProps {
   onSortChange: (config: SortConfig) => void;
   onClearFilters: () => void;
   showClearButton: boolean;
+  onRefresh?: () => void;
+  isRefreshing?: boolean;
 }
 
 const getEntityFilterIcon = (filter: EntityFilter) => {
@@ -40,7 +43,9 @@ export const QueueFilters = ({
   onStatusFilterChange,
   onSortChange,
   onClearFilters,
-  showClearButton
+  showClearButton,
+  onRefresh,
+  isRefreshing = false
 }: QueueFiltersProps) => {
   const { isCollapsed, toggle } = useFilterPanelState();
 
@@ -189,19 +194,28 @@ export const QueueFilters = ({
         </CollapsibleContent>
       </Collapsible>
 
-      {/* Clear Filters Button (desktop only) */}
-      {!isMobile && showClearButton && (
-        <div className="flex items-end pt-2">
-          <Button
-            variant="outline"
-            size="sm"
-            onClick={onClearFilters}
-            className="flex items-center gap-2"
-            aria-label="Clear all filters"
-          >
-            <X className="w-4 h-4" />
-            Clear Filters
-          </Button>
+      {/* Clear Filters & Manual Refresh (desktop only) */}
+      {!isMobile && (showClearButton || onRefresh) && (
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 pt-2">
+          {onRefresh && (
+            <RefreshButton
+              onRefresh={onRefresh}
+              isLoading={isRefreshing}
+              size="sm"
+            />
+          )}
+          {showClearButton && (
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              onClick={onClearFilters}
+              className="flex items-center gap-2"
+              aria-label="Clear all filters"
+            >
+              <X className="w-4 h-4" />
+              Clear Filters
+            </Button>
+          )}
         </div>
       )}
     </div>
diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ValidationSummary.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ValidationSummary.tsx
index 18583dd2..f4e20ec2 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ValidationSummary.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ValidationSummary.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useState, useMemo } from 'react';
-import { AlertCircle, CheckCircle, Info, AlertTriangle, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
+import { AlertCircle, CheckCircle, Info, AlertTriangle } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
-import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { RefreshButton } from '@/components/ui/refresh-button';
 import { Alert, AlertDescription, AlertTitle } from '@/components/ui/alert';
 import { Collapsible, CollapsibleContent, CollapsibleTrigger } from '@/components/ui/collapsible';
 import { validateEntityData, ValidationResult } from '@/lib/entityValidationSchemas';
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export function ValidationSummary({ item, onValidationChange, compact = false, v
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
   const [isExpanded, setIsExpanded] = useState(false);
   const [manualTriggerCount, setManualTriggerCount] = useState(0);
+  const [isRevalidating, setIsRevalidating] = useState(false);
 
   // Helper to extract the correct entity ID based on entity type
   const getEntityId = (
@@ -225,15 +226,24 @@ export function ValidationSummary({ item, onValidationChange, compact = false, v
           </Badge>
         )}
         
-        <Button
-          variant="outline"
+        <RefreshButton
+          onRefresh={async () => {
+            setIsRevalidating(true);
+            try {
+              setManualTriggerCount(prev => prev + 1);
+              // Short delay to show feedback
+              await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 500));
+            } finally {
+              setIsRevalidating(false);
+            }
+          }}
+          isLoading={isRevalidating}
           size="sm"
-          onClick={() => setManualTriggerCount(prev => prev + 1)}
+          variant="outline"
           className="text-xs h-7"
         >
-          <RefreshCw className="w-3 h-3 mr-1" />
           Re-validate
-        </Button>
+        </RefreshButton>
       </div>
 
       {/* Detailed Issues */}
diff --git a/src/components/moderation/renderers/QueueItemActions.tsx b/src/components/moderation/renderers/QueueItemActions.tsx
index 7ad80ae1..bd46f3ac 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/renderers/QueueItemActions.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/renderers/QueueItemActions.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import { memo, useCallback } from 'react';
 import { useDebouncedCallback } from 'use-debounce';
 import { 
-  CheckCircle, XCircle, RefreshCw, AlertCircle, Lock, Trash2, 
-  Edit, Info, ExternalLink, ChevronDown, ListTree, Calendar 
+  AlertCircle, Edit, Info, ExternalLink, ChevronDown, ListTree, Calendar 
 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { ActionButton } from '@/components/ui/action-button';
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
 import { Alert, AlertDescription, AlertTitle } from '@/components/ui/alert';
@@ -159,24 +159,14 @@ export const QueueItemActions = memo(({
                 <AlertDescription className="text-blue-800 dark:text-blue-200">
                   <div className="flex items-center justify-between mt-2">
                     <span className="text-sm">Claim this submission to lock it for 15 minutes while you review</span>
-                    <Button
+                    <ActionButton
+                      action="claim"
                       onClick={onClaim}
                       disabled={queueIsLoading || isClaiming}
+                      isLoading={isClaiming}
                       size="sm"
                       className="ml-4"
-                    >
-                      {isClaiming ? (
-                        <>
-                          <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
-                          Claiming...
-                        </>
-                      ) : (
-                        <>
-                          <Lock className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
-                          Claim Submission
-                        </>
-                      )}
-                    </Button>
+                    />
                   </div>
                 </AlertDescription>
               </Alert>
@@ -274,46 +264,29 @@ export const QueueItemActions = memo(({
                 </>
               )}
               
-              <Button
+              <ActionButton
+                action="approve"
                 onClick={handleApprove}
                 disabled={actionLoading === item.id || isLockedByOther || currentLockSubmissionId !== item.id}
-                className={`flex-1 ${isMobile ? 'h-11' : ''}`}
+                isLoading={actionLoading === item.id}
+                loadingText={
+                  item.submission_items && item.submission_items.length > 5
+                    ? `Processing ${item.submission_items.length} items...`
+                    : 'Processing...'
+                }
+                className="flex-1"
                 size={isMobile ? "default" : "default"}
-              >
-                {actionLoading === item.id ? (
-                  <>
-                    <RefreshCw className={`${isMobile ? "w-5 h-5" : "w-4 h-4"} mr-2 animate-spin`} />
-                    {item.submission_items && item.submission_items.length > 5
-                      ? `Processing ${item.submission_items.length} items...`
-                      : 'Processing...'
-                    }
-                  </>
-                ) : (
-                  <>
-                    <CheckCircle className={isMobile ? "w-5 h-5 mr-2" : "w-4 h-4 mr-2"} />
-                    Approve
-                  </>
-                )}
-              </Button>
-              <Button
-                variant="destructive"
+                isMobile={isMobile}
+              />
+              <ActionButton
+                action="reject"
                 onClick={handleReject}
                 disabled={actionLoading === item.id || isLockedByOther || currentLockSubmissionId !== item.id}
-                className={`flex-1 ${isMobile ? 'h-11' : ''}`}
+                isLoading={actionLoading === item.id}
+                className="flex-1"
                 size={isMobile ? "default" : "default"}
-              >
-                {actionLoading === item.id ? (
-                  <>
-                    <RefreshCw className={`${isMobile ? "w-5 h-5" : "w-4 h-4"} mr-2 animate-spin`} />
-                    Processing...
-                  </>
-                ) : (
-                  <>
-                    <XCircle className={isMobile ? "w-5 h-5 mr-2" : "w-4 h-4 mr-2"} />
-                    Reject
-                  </>
-                )}
-              </Button>
+                isMobile={isMobile}
+              />
             </div>
           </div>
         </>
@@ -329,15 +302,13 @@ export const QueueItemActions = memo(({
               <p className="text-xs mt-1">You can reset it to pending to re-review and approve it.</p>
             </div>
           </div>
-          <Button
+          <ActionButton
+            action="reset"
             onClick={handleResetToPending}
             disabled={actionLoading === item.id}
-            variant="outline"
+            isLoading={actionLoading === item.id}
             className="w-full"
-          >
-            <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
-            Reset to Pending
-          </Button>
+          />
         </div>
       )}
 
@@ -361,23 +332,22 @@ export const QueueItemActions = memo(({
               <ListTree className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
               Review Items
             </Button>
-            <Button
+            <ActionButton
+              action="reset"
               onClick={handleResetToPending}
               disabled={actionLoading === item.id}
-              variant="outline"
+              isLoading={actionLoading === item.id}
               className="flex-1"
             >
-              <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
               Reset All
-            </Button>
-            <Button
+            </ActionButton>
+            <ActionButton
+              action="retry"
               onClick={handleRetryFailed}
               disabled={actionLoading === item.id}
-              className="flex-1 bg-yellow-600 hover:bg-yellow-700"
-            >
-              <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
-              Retry Failed
-            </Button>
+              isLoading={actionLoading === item.id}
+              className="flex-1"
+            />
           </div>
         </div>
       )}
@@ -461,27 +431,30 @@ export const QueueItemActions = memo(({
             />
             <div className={`flex gap-2 ${isMobile ? 'flex-col' : ''}`}>
               {item.status === 'approved' && (
-                <Button
-                  variant="destructive"
+                <ActionButton
+                  action="reject"
                   onClick={handleReverseReject}
                   disabled={actionLoading === item.id}
-                  className={`flex-1 ${isMobile ? 'h-11' : ''}`}
+                  isLoading={actionLoading === item.id}
+                  className="flex-1"
                   size={isMobile ? "default" : "default"}
+                  isMobile={isMobile}
                 >
-                  <XCircle className={isMobile ? "w-5 h-5 mr-2" : "w-4 h-4 mr-2"} />
                   Change to Rejected
-                </Button>
+                </ActionButton>
               )}
               {item.status === 'rejected' && (
-                <Button
+                <ActionButton
+                  action="approve"
                   onClick={handleReverseApprove}
                   disabled={actionLoading === item.id}
-                  className={`flex-1 ${isMobile ? 'h-11' : ''}`}
+                  isLoading={actionLoading === item.id}
+                  className="flex-1"
                   size={isMobile ? "default" : "default"}
+                  isMobile={isMobile}
                 >
-                  <CheckCircle className={isMobile ? "w-5 h-5 mr-2" : "w-4 h-4 mr-2"} />
                   Change to Approved
-                </Button>
+                </ActionButton>
               )}
             </div>
           </div>
@@ -491,16 +464,17 @@ export const QueueItemActions = memo(({
       {/* Delete button for rejected submissions (admin/superadmin only) */}
       {item.status === 'rejected' && item.type === 'content_submission' && (isAdmin || isSuperuser) && (
         <div className="pt-2">
-          <Button
-            variant="destructive"
+          <ActionButton
+            action="delete"
             onClick={handleDeleteSubmission}
             disabled={actionLoading === item.id}
-            className={`w-full ${isMobile ? 'h-11' : ''}`}
+            isLoading={actionLoading === item.id}
+            className="w-full"
             size={isMobile ? "default" : "default"}
+            isMobile={isMobile}
           >
-            <Trash2 className={isMobile ? "w-5 h-5 mr-2" : "w-4 h-4 mr-2"} />
             Delete Submission
-          </Button>
+          </ActionButton>
         </div>
       )}
     </>
diff --git a/src/components/moderation/show-new-items-button.tsx b/src/components/moderation/show-new-items-button.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..665dca2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/moderation/show-new-items-button.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import { RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+
+interface ShowNewItemsButtonProps {
+  count: number;
+  onShow: () => void | Promise<void>;
+  isLoading?: boolean;
+}
+
+export const ShowNewItemsButton = ({
+  count,
+  onShow,
+  isLoading = false
+}: ShowNewItemsButtonProps) => {
+  const itemText = count === 1 ? 'item' : 'items';
+  
+  return (
+    <Button
+      variant="default"
+      size="sm"
+      onClick={onShow}
+      loading={isLoading}
+      loadingText={`Loading ${count} ${itemText}...`}
+      trackingLabel="show-new-queue-items"
+    >
+      <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
+      Show {count} New {count === 1 ? 'Item' : 'Items'}
+    </Button>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/src/components/ui/action-button.tsx b/src/components/ui/action-button.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..edc48d30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ui/action-button.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+import { CheckCircle, XCircle, Lock, RefreshCw, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button, ButtonProps } from './button';
+
+type ActionType = 'approve' | 'reject' | 'delete' | 'claim' | 'reset' | 'retry';
+
+interface ActionConfig {
+  icon: React.ReactNode;
+  defaultLabel: string;
+  loadingText: string;
+  variant: ButtonProps['variant'];
+  className?: string;
+}
+
+const ACTION_CONFIGS: Record<ActionType, ActionConfig> = {
+  approve: {
+    icon: <CheckCircle className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />,
+    defaultLabel: 'Approve',
+    loadingText: 'Processing...',
+    variant: 'default',
+  },
+  reject: {
+    icon: <XCircle className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />,
+    defaultLabel: 'Reject',
+    loadingText: 'Processing...',
+    variant: 'destructive',
+  },
+  claim: {
+    icon: <Lock className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />,
+    defaultLabel: 'Claim Submission',
+    loadingText: 'Claiming...',
+    variant: 'default',
+  },
+  reset: {
+    icon: <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />,
+    defaultLabel: 'Reset to Pending',
+    loadingText: 'Resetting...',
+    variant: 'outline',
+  },
+  retry: {
+    icon: <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />,
+    defaultLabel: 'Retry Failed',
+    loadingText: 'Retrying...',
+    variant: 'default',
+    className: 'bg-yellow-600 hover:bg-yellow-700',
+  },
+  delete: {
+    icon: <Trash2 className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />,
+    defaultLabel: 'Delete',
+    loadingText: 'Deleting...',
+    variant: 'destructive',
+  },
+};
+
+interface ActionButtonProps extends Omit<ButtonProps, 'loading' | 'loadingText' | 'variant'> {
+  action: ActionType;
+  isLoading?: boolean;
+  loadingText?: string;
+  variant?: ButtonProps['variant'];
+  children?: React.ReactNode;
+  isMobile?: boolean;
+}
+
+export const ActionButton = ({
+  action,
+  isLoading = false,
+  loadingText,
+  variant,
+  size = 'default',
+  className,
+  children,
+  isMobile = false,
+  ...props
+}: ActionButtonProps) => {
+  const config = ACTION_CONFIGS[action];
+  const iconClassName = isMobile ? "w-5 h-5 mr-2" : "w-4 h-4 mr-2";
+  
+  // Clone the icon with mobile-appropriate size
+  const icon = isMobile && config.icon 
+    ? <CheckCircle className={iconClassName} /> // Dynamic sizing handled per action below
+    : config.icon;
+  
+  return (
+    <Button
+      variant={variant || config.variant}
+      size={size}
+      loading={isLoading}
+      loadingText={loadingText || config.loadingText}
+      className={`${config.className || ''} ${className || ''} ${isMobile ? 'h-11' : ''}`}
+      trackingLabel={`moderation-${action}`}
+      {...props}
+    >
+      {children || (
+        <>
+          {action === 'approve' && (isMobile ? <CheckCircle className="w-5 h-5 mr-2" /> : <CheckCircle className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />)}
+          {action === 'reject' && (isMobile ? <XCircle className="w-5 h-5 mr-2" /> : <XCircle className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />)}
+          {action === 'claim' && (isMobile ? <Lock className="w-5 h-5 mr-2" /> : <Lock className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />)}
+          {action === 'reset' && <RefreshCw className={iconClassName} />}
+          {action === 'retry' && <RefreshCw className={iconClassName} />}
+          {action === 'delete' && <Trash2 className={iconClassName} />}
+          {config.defaultLabel}
+        </>
+      )}
+    </Button>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/src/components/ui/icon-button.tsx b/src/components/ui/icon-button.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04f5ea8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ui/icon-button.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { Button, ButtonProps } from './button';
+
+interface IconButtonProps extends Omit<ButtonProps, 'loading'> {
+  icon: React.ReactNode;
+  label: string; // For accessibility
+  isLoading?: boolean;
+}
+
+export const IconButton = ({
+  icon,
+  label,
+  isLoading = false,
+  variant = 'ghost',
+  size = 'icon',
+  ...props
+}: IconButtonProps) => {
+  return (
+    <Button
+      variant={variant}
+      size={size}
+      loading={isLoading}
+      aria-label={label}
+      {...props}
+    >
+      {!isLoading && icon}
+    </Button>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/src/components/ui/refresh-button.tsx b/src/components/ui/refresh-button.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a561d5fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ui/refresh-button.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button, ButtonProps } from './button';
+
+interface RefreshButtonProps extends Omit<ButtonProps, 'loading' | 'loadingText'> {
+  onRefresh: () => void | Promise<void>;
+  isLoading?: boolean;
+  children?: React.ReactNode;
+}
+
+export const RefreshButton = ({
+  onRefresh,
+  isLoading = false,
+  size = 'default',
+  variant = 'outline',
+  children = 'Refresh',
+  className,
+  ...props
+}: RefreshButtonProps) => {
+  return (
+    <Button
+      variant={variant}
+      size={size}
+      onClick={onRefresh}
+      loading={isLoading}
+      loadingText="Refreshing..."
+      className={className}
+      trackingLabel="refresh-data"
+      {...props}
+    >
+      <RefreshCw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
+      {children}
+    </Button>
+  );
+};