diff --git a/agents/auditor.md b/agents/auditor.md
index 1aabe70..fd9e414 100644
--- a/agents/auditor.md
+++ b/agents/auditor.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ maxTurns: 25
 skills:
   - conventions
   - message-schema
+  - qa-checklist
   - project
 ---
 
diff --git a/agents/reviewer.md b/agents/reviewer.md
index 74edf29..05d2b3a 100644
--- a/agents/reviewer.md
+++ b/agents/reviewer.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ maxTurns: 20
 skills:
   - conventions
   - message-schema
+  - qa-checklist
   - project
 ---
 
diff --git a/skills/message-schema/SKILL.md b/skills/message-schema/SKILL.md
index 626bf52..585a7f3 100644
--- a/skills/message-schema/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/message-schema/SKILL.md
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ typecheck_status: pass | fail | skipped
 Required: `type`, `signal`, `security_findings`, `build_status`, `test_status`
 Optional: `typecheck_status`
 
-**Hard rule:** `security_findings.critical > 0` or `build_status: fail` or `test_status: fail` requires `signal: fail`.
+**Hard rule:** `security_findings.critical > 0` or `build_status: fail` or `test_status: fail` requires `signal: fail`. High-severity findings (`security_findings.high > 0`) do not require `fail` — use `pass_with_notes`.
 
 Body: Security findings by severity (or CLEAN), then Runtime section with tested/passed/failed.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa-checklist/SKILL.md b/skills/qa-checklist/SKILL.md
index 045e02f..73eb09b 100644
--- a/skills/qa-checklist/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/qa-checklist/SKILL.md
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Before returning your output, validate against every item below. If you find a v
 - Are hard rules satisfied?
   - `review_verdict`: `critical_count > 0` requires `signal: fail`
   - `audit_verdict`: `security_findings.critical > 0` or `build_status: fail` or `test_status: fail` requires `signal: fail`
-  - `plan_result`: `has_blockers: true` requires orchestrator escalation to user before worker dispatch
+  - `plan_result`: if you set `has_blockers: true`, confirm this is intentional — it triggers user escalation before worker dispatch
 
 ## After validation
 
diff --git a/skills/worker-protocol/SKILL.md b/skills/worker-protocol/SKILL.md
index e879158..4b7dbb9 100644
--- a/skills/worker-protocol/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/worker-protocol/SKILL.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ signal: rfr | blocked | escalate
 files_changed:
   - path/to/file1
   - path/to/file2
-ac_coverage:
+ac_coverage:                          # optional — omit when no AC provided
   AC1: pass | fail | partial | na
   AC2: pass | fail | partial | na
 qa_check: pass | fail