diff --git a/src/components/moderation/renderers/QueueItemActions.tsx b/src/components/moderation/renderers/QueueItemActions.tsx
index 1145865e..4de22fad 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/renderers/QueueItemActions.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/renderers/QueueItemActions.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { memo, useCallback } from 'react';
+import { memo, useCallback, useState } from 'react';
 import { useDebouncedCallback } from 'use-debounce';
 import { 
   AlertCircle, Edit, Info, ExternalLink, ChevronDown, ListTree, Calendar, Crown, Unlock 
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { UserAvatar } from '@/components/ui/user-avatar';
 import { format } from 'date-fns';
 import type { ModerationItem } from '@/types/moderation';
 import { sanitizeURL, sanitizePlainText } from '@/lib/sanitize';
+import { getErrorMessage } from '@/lib/errorHandler';
 
 interface QueueItemActionsProps {
   item: ModerationItem;
@@ -64,30 +65,50 @@ export const QueueItemActions = memo(({
   onClaim,
   onSuperuserReleaseLock
 }: QueueItemActionsProps) => {
+  // Error state for retry functionality
+  const [actionError, setActionError] = useState<{
+    message: string;
+    errorId?: string;
+    action: 'approve' | 'reject';
+  } | null>(null);
+
   // Memoize all handlers to prevent re-renders
   const handleNoteChange = useCallback((e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLTextAreaElement>) => {
     onNoteChange(item.id, e.target.value);
   }, [onNoteChange, item.id]);
 
-  // Debounced handlers to prevent duplicate submissions
+  // Debounced handlers with error tracking
   const handleApprove = useDebouncedCallback(
-    () => {
-      // Extra guard against race conditions
-      if (actionLoading === item.id) {
-        return;
+    async () => {
+      if (actionLoading === item.id) return;
+      try {
+        setActionError(null);
+        await onApprove(item, 'approved', notes[item.id]);
+      } catch (error: any) {
+        setActionError({
+          message: getErrorMessage(error),
+          errorId: error.errorId,
+          action: 'approve',
+        });
       }
-      onApprove(item, 'approved', notes[item.id]);
     },
-    300, // 300ms debounce
-    { leading: true, trailing: false } // Only fire on first click
+    300,
+    { leading: true, trailing: false }
   );
 
   const handleReject = useDebouncedCallback(
-    () => {
-      if (actionLoading === item.id) {
-        return;
+    async () => {
+      if (actionLoading === item.id) return;
+      try {
+        setActionError(null);
+        await onApprove(item, 'rejected', notes[item.id]);
+      } catch (error: any) {
+        setActionError({
+          message: getErrorMessage(error),
+          errorId: error.errorId,
+          action: 'reject',
+        });
       }
-      onApprove(item, 'rejected', notes[item.id]);
     },
     300,
     { leading: true, trailing: false }
@@ -149,6 +170,40 @@ export const QueueItemActions = memo(({
 
   return (
     <>
+      {/* Error Display with Retry */}
+      {actionError && (
+        <Alert variant="destructive" className="mb-4">
+          <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
+          <AlertTitle>Action Failed: {actionError.action}</AlertTitle>
+          <AlertDescription>
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <p className="text-sm">{actionError.message}</p>
+              {actionError.errorId && (
+                <p className="text-xs font-mono bg-destructive/10 px-2 py-1 rounded">
+                  Reference ID: {actionError.errorId.slice(0, 8)}
+                </p>
+              )}
+              <div className="flex gap-2 mt-3">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="outline"
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    setActionError(null);
+                    if (actionError.action === 'approve') handleApprove();
+                    else if (actionError.action === 'reject') handleReject();
+                  }}
+                >
+                  Retry {actionError.action}
+                </Button>
+                <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setActionError(null)}>
+                  Dismiss
+                </Button>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </AlertDescription>
+        </Alert>
+      )}
+
       {/* Action buttons based on status */}
       {(item.status === 'pending' || item.status === 'flagged') && (
         <>
diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationActions.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationActions.ts
index d3852566..728b2dd9 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationActions.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationActions.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { useMutation, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { supabase } from '@/lib/supabaseClient';
 import { useToast } from '@/hooks/use-toast';
 import { logger } from '@/lib/logger';
-import { getErrorMessage } from '@/lib/errorHandler';
+import { getErrorMessage, handleError, isSupabaseConnectionError } from '@/lib/errorHandler';
 import { validateMultipleItems } from '@/lib/entityValidationSchemas';
 import { invokeWithTracking } from '@/lib/edgeFunctionTracking';
 import type { User } from '@supabase/supabase-js';
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export interface ModerationActions {
   deleteSubmission: (item: ModerationItem) => Promise<void>;
   resetToPending: (item: ModerationItem) => Promise<void>;
   retryFailedItems: (item: ModerationItem) => Promise<void>;
+  escalateSubmission: (item: ModerationItem, reason: string) => Promise<void>;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -321,18 +322,29 @@ export function useModerationActions(config: ModerationActionsConfig): Moderatio
       
       return { previousData };
     },
-    onError: (error, variables, context) => {
-      // Rollback on error
+    onError: (error: any, variables, context) => {
+      // Rollback optimistic update
       if (context?.previousData) {
         queryClient.setQueryData(['moderation-queue'], context.previousData);
       }
+
+      // Enhanced error handling with reference ID and network detection
+      const isNetworkError = isSupabaseConnectionError(error);
+      const errorMessage = getErrorMessage(error) || `Failed to ${variables.action} content`;
       
-      // Error already logged by mutation, just show toast
       toast({
-        title: 'Action Failed',
-        description: getErrorMessage(error) || `Failed to ${variables.action} content`,
+        title: isNetworkError ? 'Connection Error' : 'Action Failed',
+        description: errorMessage,
         variant: 'destructive',
       });
+
+      logger.error('Moderation action failed', {
+        itemId: variables.item.id,
+        action: variables.action,
+        error: errorMessage,
+        errorId: error.errorId,
+        isNetworkError,
+      });
     },
     onSuccess: (data) => {
       if (data) {
@@ -350,14 +362,34 @@ export function useModerationActions(config: ModerationActionsConfig): Moderatio
   });
 
   /**
-   * Wrapper for performAction mutation to maintain API compatibility
+   * Wrapper function that handles loading states and error tracking
    */
   const performAction = useCallback(
     async (item: ModerationItem, action: 'approved' | 'rejected', moderatorNotes?: string) => {
       onActionStart(item.id);
-      await performActionMutation.mutateAsync({ item, action, moderatorNotes });
+      try {
+        await performActionMutation.mutateAsync({ item, action, moderatorNotes });
+      } catch (error) {
+        const errorId = handleError(error, {
+          action: `Moderation ${action}`,
+          userId: user?.id,
+          metadata: {
+            submissionId: item.id,
+            submissionType: item.submission_type,
+            itemType: item.type,
+            hasSubmissionItems: item.submission_items?.length ?? 0,
+            moderatorNotes: moderatorNotes?.substring(0, 100),
+          },
+        });
+        
+        // Attach error ID for UI display
+        const enhancedError = error instanceof Error 
+          ? Object.assign(error, { errorId })
+          : { message: getErrorMessage(error), errorId };
+        throw enhancedError;
+      }
     },
-    [onActionStart, performActionMutation]
+    [onActionStart, performActionMutation, user]
   );
 
   /**
@@ -406,13 +438,23 @@ export function useModerationActions(config: ModerationActionsConfig): Moderatio
 
         logger.log(`✅ Submission ${item.id} deleted`);
       } catch (error: unknown) {
-        // Error already handled, just show toast
-        toast({
-          title: 'Error',
-          description: getErrorMessage(error),
-          variant: 'destructive',
+        const errorId = handleError(error, {
+          action: 'Delete Submission',
+          userId: user?.id,
+          metadata: {
+            submissionId: item.id,
+            submissionType: item.submission_type,
+          },
         });
-        throw error;
+        
+        logger.error('Failed to delete submission', { 
+          submissionId: item.id,
+          errorId,
+        });
+        const enhancedError = error instanceof Error 
+          ? Object.assign(error, { errorId })
+          : { message: getErrorMessage(error), errorId };
+        throw enhancedError;
       } finally {
         onActionComplete();
       }
@@ -455,12 +497,23 @@ export function useModerationActions(config: ModerationActionsConfig): Moderatio
 
         logger.log(`✅ Submission ${item.id} reset to pending`);
       } catch (error: unknown) {
-        // Error already handled, just show toast
-        toast({
-          title: 'Reset Failed',
-          description: getErrorMessage(error),
-          variant: 'destructive',
+        const errorId = handleError(error, {
+          action: 'Reset to Pending',
+          userId: user?.id,
+          metadata: {
+            submissionId: item.id,
+            submissionType: item.submission_type,
+          },
         });
+        
+        logger.error('Failed to reset status', { 
+          submissionId: item.id,
+          errorId,
+        });
+        const enhancedError = error instanceof Error 
+          ? Object.assign(error, { errorId })
+          : { message: getErrorMessage(error), errorId };
+        throw enhancedError;
       } finally {
         onActionComplete();
       }
@@ -474,6 +527,7 @@ export function useModerationActions(config: ModerationActionsConfig): Moderatio
   const retryFailedItems = useCallback(
     async (item: ModerationItem) => {
       onActionStart(item.id);
+      let failedItemsCount = 0;
 
       try {
         const { data: failedItems } = await supabase
@@ -490,6 +544,8 @@ export function useModerationActions(config: ModerationActionsConfig): Moderatio
           return;
         }
 
+        failedItemsCount = failedItems.length;
+
         const { data, error, requestId } = await invokeWithTracking(
           'process-selective-approval',
           {
@@ -527,17 +583,112 @@ export function useModerationActions(config: ModerationActionsConfig): Moderatio
 
         logger.log(`✅ Retried ${failedItems.length} failed items for ${item.id}`);
       } catch (error: unknown) {
-        // Error already handled, just show toast
-        toast({
-          title: 'Retry Failed',
-          description: getErrorMessage(error) || 'Failed to retry items',
-          variant: 'destructive',
+        const errorId = handleError(error, {
+          action: 'Retry Failed Items',
+          userId: user?.id,
+          metadata: {
+            submissionId: item.id,
+            failedItemsCount,
+          },
         });
+        
+        logger.error('Failed to retry items', { 
+          submissionId: item.id,
+          errorId,
+        });
+        const enhancedError = error instanceof Error 
+          ? Object.assign(error, { errorId })
+          : { message: getErrorMessage(error), errorId };
+        throw enhancedError;
       } finally {
         onActionComplete();
       }
     },
-    [toast, onActionStart, onActionComplete]
+    [toast, onActionStart, onActionComplete, user]
+  );
+
+  /**
+   * Escalate submission for admin review
+   * Consolidates escalation logic with comprehensive error handling
+   */
+  const escalateSubmission = useCallback(
+    async (item: ModerationItem, reason: string) => {
+      if (!user?.id) {
+        toast({
+          title: 'Authentication Required',
+          description: 'You must be logged in to escalate submissions',
+          variant: 'destructive',
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      onActionStart(item.id);
+
+      try {
+        // Call edge function for email notification
+        const { error: edgeFunctionError, requestId } = await invokeWithTracking(
+          'send-escalation-notification',
+          {
+            submissionId: item.id,
+            escalationReason: reason,
+            escalatedBy: user.id,
+          },
+          user.id
+        );
+
+        if (edgeFunctionError) {
+          // Edge function failed - log and show fallback toast
+          handleError(edgeFunctionError, {
+            action: 'Send escalation notification',
+            userId: user.id,
+            metadata: {
+              submissionId: item.id,
+              reason: reason.substring(0, 100),
+              fallbackUsed: true,
+            },
+          });
+
+          toast({
+            title: 'Escalated (Email Failed)',
+            description: 'Submission escalated but notification email could not be sent',
+          });
+        } else {
+          toast({
+            title: 'Escalated Successfully',
+            description: `Submission escalated and admin notified${requestId ? ` (${requestId.substring(0, 8)})` : ''}`,
+          });
+        }
+
+        // Invalidate cache
+        queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['moderation-queue'] });
+
+        logger.log(`✅ Submission ${item.id} escalated`);
+      } catch (error: unknown) {
+        const errorId = handleError(error, {
+          action: 'Escalate Submission',
+          userId: user.id,
+          metadata: {
+            submissionId: item.id,
+            submissionType: item.submission_type,
+            reason: reason.substring(0, 100),
+          },
+        });
+
+        logger.error('Escalation failed', {
+          submissionId: item.id,
+          errorId,
+        });
+        
+        // Re-throw to allow UI to show retry option
+        const enhancedError = error instanceof Error 
+          ? Object.assign(error, { errorId })
+          : { message: getErrorMessage(error), errorId };
+        throw enhancedError;
+      } finally {
+        onActionComplete();
+      }
+    },
+    [user, toast, onActionStart, onActionComplete, queryClient]
   );
 
   return {
@@ -545,5 +696,6 @@ export function useModerationActions(config: ModerationActionsConfig): Moderatio
     deleteSubmission,
     resetToPending,
     retryFailedItems,
+    escalateSubmission,
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/errorHandler.ts b/src/lib/errorHandler.ts
index 4fe6f801..e1b9b563 100644
--- a/src/lib/errorHandler.ts
+++ b/src/lib/errorHandler.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export class AppError extends Error {
 /**
  * Check if error is a Supabase connection/API error
  */
-function isSupabaseConnectionError(error: unknown): boolean {
+export function isSupabaseConnectionError(error: unknown): boolean {
   if (error && typeof error === 'object') {
     const supabaseError = error as { code?: string; status?: number; message?: string };