diff --git a/docs/llm-workflow-runbooks.md b/docs/llm-workflow-runbooks.md
index 226611a..16fda8a 100644
--- a/docs/llm-workflow-runbooks.md
+++ b/docs/llm-workflow-runbooks.md
@@ -205,18 +205,29 @@ git worktree add -b fix/issue-123-example branches/fix-issue-123-example prgs/ma
 cd branches/fix-issue-123-example
 ```
 
-For review work, create a separate review worktree/folder instead of reusing the
-author's implementation folder.
-
-Cleanup is explicit and only after merge or close:
+For review work, create a separate **detached** review worktree instead of
+reusing the author's implementation folder:
 
 ```bash
+scripts/worktree-review fix/issue-123-example   # → branches/review-fix-issue-123-example
+```
+
+Cleanup is explicit and only after merge or close. Use the helper (it fetches/
+prunes first, refuses to remove a dirty worktree, and only safe-deletes a merged
+branch), or the equivalent manual commands:
+
+```bash
+scripts/worktree-clean --delete-branch fix/issue-123-example
+# equivalent manual commands:
 cd <main-repo>
 git fetch prgs --prune
 git worktree remove branches/fix-issue-123-example
 git branch -d fix/issue-123-example
 ```
 
+All three helpers accept `--dry-run` to print the exact commands/paths without
+touching anything.
+
 ### Create an issue / child issues
 
 - **Profile:** issue-manager or author (any profile allowed to create issues).
diff --git a/scripts/worktree-clean b/scripts/worktree-clean
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2bccf1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/worktree-clean
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<'EOF'
+usage: scripts/worktree-clean [--dry-run] [--delete-branch] <branch-name|folder-name>
+
+Remove a branch worktree under branches/ AFTER its PR is merged or closed. This
+is the ONLY helper that deletes anything, and it deletes nothing unless you
+invoke it explicitly. It refuses to remove a worktree with uncommitted changes
+(no --force is offered). With --delete-branch it also deletes the local branch,
+but only with a safe `git branch -d` (fails unless the branch is merged).
+
+Pass the branch name (with slashes) so --delete-branch can resolve it; the
+folder is branches/<branch-with-slashes-replaced-by-dashes>.
+
+Examples:
+  scripts/worktree-clean --dry-run fix/issue-123-example
+  scripts/worktree-clean --delete-branch fix/issue-123-example
+EOF
+}
+
+dry_run=0
+del_branch=0
+while [[ "${1:-}" == --* ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --dry-run) dry_run=1 ;;
+    --delete-branch) del_branch=1 ;;
+    --help) usage; exit 0 ;;
+    *) usage >&2; exit 2 ;;
+  esac
+  shift
+done
+
+if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
+  usage >&2
+  exit 2
+fi
+
+branch="$1"
+worktree_name="${branch//\//-}"
+
+script_dir="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+repo_root="$(cd "$script_dir/.." && pwd)"
+worktree_path="$repo_root/branches/$worktree_name"
+
+if [[ ! -d "$worktree_path" ]]; then
+  printf 'No such worktree: %s\n' "$worktree_path" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ "$dry_run" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  printf 'repo: %s\n' "$repo_root"
+  printf 'worktree: %s\n' "$worktree_path"
+  printf 'delete-branch: %s\n' "$del_branch"
+  printf 'commands:\n'
+  printf '  git -C %q fetch prgs --prune\n' "$repo_root"
+  printf '  git -C %q worktree remove %q\n' "$repo_root" "$worktree_path"
+  if [[ "$del_branch" -eq 1 ]]; then
+    printf '  git -C %q branch -d %q\n' "$repo_root" "$branch"
+  fi
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+git -C "$repo_root" fetch prgs --prune
+# No --force: `git worktree remove` fails on uncommitted changes, on purpose.
+git -C "$repo_root" worktree remove "$worktree_path"
+printf 'removed worktree: %s\n' "$worktree_path"
+
+if [[ "$del_branch" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  # Safe delete only: refuses to drop an unmerged branch.
+  git -C "$repo_root" branch -d "$branch"
+  printf 'deleted branch: %s\n' "$branch"
+fi
diff --git a/scripts/worktree-review b/scripts/worktree-review
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..68618c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/worktree-review
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<'EOF'
+usage: scripts/worktree-review [--dry-run] <branch-name> [start-ref]
+
+Create an isolated, DETACHED review worktree under branches/review-<branch>.
+Reviews an existing branch in its own folder without creating a local branch,
+so review work never blocks or contaminates the author's implementation folder
+and a reviewer cannot accidentally commit. Default start-ref is prgs/<branch>.
+
+Examples:
+  scripts/worktree-review fix/issue-123-example
+  scripts/worktree-review --dry-run fix/issue-123-example prgs/fix/issue-123-example
+EOF
+}
+
+dry_run=0
+if [[ "${1:-}" == "--dry-run" ]]; then
+  dry_run=1
+  shift
+fi
+
+if [[ $# -lt 1 || $# -gt 2 ]]; then
+  usage >&2
+  exit 2
+fi
+
+branch="$1"
+start_ref="${2:-prgs/$branch}"
+
+script_dir="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+repo_root="$(cd "$script_dir/.." && pwd)"
+worktree_name="review-${branch//\//-}"
+worktree_path="$repo_root/branches/$worktree_name"
+
+if [[ -e "$worktree_path" ]]; then
+  cat >&2 <<EOF
+Refusing to reuse existing review worktree:
+  $worktree_path
+
+Inspect it manually. Do not overwrite another reviewer's folder.
+EOF
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ "$dry_run" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  printf 'repo: %s\n' "$repo_root"
+  printf 'branch: %s\n' "$branch"
+  printf 'start-ref: %s\n' "$start_ref"
+  printf 'worktree: %s\n' "$worktree_path"
+  printf 'commands:\n'
+  printf '  git -C %q fetch prgs --prune\n' "$repo_root"
+  printf '  git -C %q worktree add --detach %q %q\n' \
+    "$repo_root" "$worktree_path" "$start_ref"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+git -C "$repo_root" fetch prgs --prune
+git -C "$repo_root" worktree add --detach "$worktree_path" "$start_ref"
+printf '%s\n' "$worktree_path"
diff --git a/tests/test_worktrees.py b/tests/test_worktrees.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2860067
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_worktrees.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+"""Tests for the branch-worktree helper scripts (#38/#39).
+
+Exercises path generation and refuse-to-overwrite via the scripts' ``--dry-run``
+mode, so no real worktrees, branches, network, or deletions are involved.
+"""
+import os
+import subprocess
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+REPO = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+SCRIPTS = REPO / "scripts"
+BRANCHES = REPO / "branches"
+
+
+def run(script, *args):
+    proc = subprocess.run(
+        ["bash", str(SCRIPTS / script), *args],
+        capture_output=True, text=True, cwd=str(REPO),
+    )
+    return proc.returncode, proc.stdout, proc.stderr
+
+
+class TestWorktreeStart(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_dry_run_path_generation(self):
+        rc, out, _ = run("worktree-start", "--dry-run", "fix/issue-123-example")
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+        self.assertIn("branches/fix-issue-123-example", out)
+        self.assertIn("fix/issue-123-example", out)
+        self.assertIn("prgs/master", out)  # default start-ref
+
+    def test_bad_args_exit_2(self):
+        rc, _, _ = run("worktree-start")
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 2)
+
+    def test_refuses_existing_worktree(self):
+        slug = f"zz-refuse-start-{os.getpid()}"
+        target = BRANCHES / slug
+        target.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        try:
+            rc, _, err = run("worktree-start", "--dry-run", slug)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 1)
+            self.assertIn("Refusing to reuse", err)
+        finally:
+            target.rmdir()
+
+
+class TestWorktreeReview(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_dry_run_detached_review_path(self):
+        rc, out, _ = run("worktree-review", "--dry-run", "fix/issue-9-x")
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+        self.assertIn("branches/review-fix-issue-9-x", out)
+        self.assertIn("--detach", out)
+        self.assertIn("prgs/fix/issue-9-x", out)  # default start-ref
+
+    def test_refuses_existing_review_worktree(self):
+        slug = f"review-zz-refuse-rev-{os.getpid()}"
+        target = BRANCHES / slug
+        target.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        try:
+            # branch name maps to the same slug: review-<branch>
+            rc, _, err = run("worktree-review", "--dry-run",
+                             f"zz-refuse-rev-{os.getpid()}")
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 1)
+            self.assertIn("Refusing to reuse", err)
+        finally:
+            target.rmdir()
+
+
+class TestWorktreeClean(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_missing_worktree_errors(self):
+        rc, _, err = run("worktree-clean", "--dry-run", "does-not-exist-xyz")
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 1)
+        self.assertIn("No such worktree", err)
+
+    def test_dry_run_does_not_delete(self):
+        slug = f"zz-clean-{os.getpid()}"
+        target = BRANCHES / slug
+        target.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        try:
+            rc, out, _ = run("worktree-clean", "--dry-run", slug)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            self.assertIn("worktree remove", out)
+            self.assertTrue(target.is_dir())  # nothing removed in dry-run
+        finally:
+            target.rmdir()
+
+    def test_dry_run_delete_branch_lists_branch_command(self):
+        slug = f"zz-clean-b-{os.getpid()}"
+        target = BRANCHES / slug
+        target.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        try:
+            rc, out, _ = run("worktree-clean", "--dry-run", "--delete-branch", slug)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            self.assertIn("branch -d", out)
+        finally:
+            target.rmdir()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()