Experienced.Strategic.Compliant.
Director of Environment, Health & Safety (EHS)
Ph.D.-qualified EHS expert with 30+ years in the oil industry, leading safety systems, compliance, auditing, and operational strategy across high-risk environments.
About.
I’m an accomplished Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) professional with over 30 years of experience driving operational excellence and risk reduction in the oil and energy sector. I’ve led EHS programs across major affiliates of PDVSA—such as the Faja, CVP, and Corpoven—and also served in Petrozuata, a joint venture between PDVSA and the American oil company ConocoPhillips. My experience spans production, refinery, upgrader, marine terminal, and solids handling operations.
Throughout my career, I’ve successfully implemented safety systems that resulted in measurable reductions in incident rates, optimized budget allocations, and enhanced compliance with national and international standards. I’ve overseen risk assessments for multimillion-dollar projects using advanced methodologies such as HAZOP, FMEA, and fault tree analysis, ensuring high safety integrity in complex environments.
I’ve directly trained and mentored over 1,000 employees and managers across diverse operational sites, embedding a proactive safety culture and increasing internal reporting and hazard recognition rates by over 30%. My leadership has not only improved frontline engagement but also empowered management teams to take ownership of compliance goals—leading to sustained audit readiness and measurable improvement in workforce safety behavior.
My approach is proactive, people-centered, and rooted in continuous improvement. I’m passionate about transforming safety culture, minimizing environmental impact, and helping companies lead with responsibility and accountability—especially in today’s evolving energy landscape.
Experience.
Occupational Safety Awareness & Training Consultant
INGNOVA22 · Aug. 2023 – Present· Anzoátegui, Venezuela
- Developed and shared engaging social-media content on EHS, OSHA regulations, and global safety events to raise awareness and foster a safety-first culture.
- Translated complex safety regulations into clear, accessible messaging for diverse audiences across industries and education levels.
- Delivered workplace safety seminars at universities and corporations, emphasizing real-world applications and preventive strategies.
- Provided bilingual training for managers, supervisors, and frontline employees on occupational safety, process safety, and risk-reduction best practices.
Safety Training & Development Manager, Upgrading Division
PDVSA · Sept. 2018 – Aug. 2023· Anzoátegui, Venezuela
- Design, implement, and continuously improve safety training programs tailored to the specific hazards, processes, and regulatory requirements of the Upgrading Division.
- Coordinate cross-functional safety initiatives by collaborating with operations, maintenance, and compliance teams to ensure consistent training standards and workforce readiness.
- Lead training execution and compliance tracking, ensuring all employees meet mandatory safety certifications, onboarding requirements, and ongoing development goals.
- Analyze safety performance metrics and incident data to proactively identify training gaps, reduce risk exposure, and support a culture of continuous safety improvement.
Safety & Health Manager, Upgrading Division
PDVSA Petroleo · Aug 2014 – Jul 2018· Venezuela
- Oversaw all safety, health, and environmental programs for the upgrading division, covering refinery, oil movement, solids handling, and upgrader operations.
- Ensured compliance with national and international safety standards through structured program oversight.
- Implemented proactive risk assessment methods including PHA and HAZOP to identify and mitigate hazards.
- Developed and established safety procedures that contributed to measurable incident-rate reductions.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to embed EHS requirements into daily operational workflows.
- Worked closely with international partner companies from the U.S., China, and Russia to align operational safety practices and regulatory compliance.
Planning & Control Manager, Industrial Safety Department
Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation (CVP, affiliate of PDVSA) · Jun 2008 – Dec 2014· Venezuela
- Led budgeting, planning, and execution of industrial safety initiatives across CVP’s refining and terminal operations.
- Directed risk assessments and cost-control strategies, optimizing resource allocation for safety programs.
- Developed and delivered tailored training programs for frontline personnel, ensuring compliance with evolving EHS regulations.
- Maintained active relationships with government safety agencies and internal leadership to align safety objectives with corporate goals.
Corporate Environment Health Safety Manager
Petrozuata (Conoco Phillips – PDVSA) · Sep 2007 – Jun 2008· Venezuela
- Guided Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) performance across company operations, including production, oil movement, solids handling, and upgrader processes.
- Advised company departments on EHS matters, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and alignment with industry best practices.
- Oversaw company-wide EHS performance, driving continuous improvement and operational safety excellence.
- Developed and maintained strategic relationships with relevant governmental EHS authorities and institutions to support compliance and knowledge sharing.
Corporate Health Safety Environment Senior Coordinator
Petrozuata (Conoco Phillips – PDVSA) · Aug 1998 – Sep 2007· Venezuela
- Coordinated corporate-level EHS strategies, ensuring alignment across multiple operational units and compliance with PDVSA standards and international regulations.
- Led the development and implementation of EHS policies, procedures, and performance indicators to support continuous improvement and risk reduction.
- Facilitated cross-departmental training programs and awareness campaigns to promote a proactive EHS culture across the organization.
- Monitored high-risk operations and collaborated with executive leadership to mitigate critical safety hazards and environmental impacts.
Accident Prevention Supervisor
Corpoven (affiliate of PDVSA) · Jul 1989 – Aug 1998· Venezuela
- Led risk identification, assessment, and mitigation planning for refinery and marine terminal operations, as well as new infrastructure projects. Applied advanced methodologies including HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study), FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis), and FTA (Fault Tree Analysis) to proactively detect and address potential hazards.
- Provided expert advisement on operational risk control strategies within high-risk environments, ensuring adherence to internal protocols and national/international safety standards across refinery and marine terminal activities.
- Designed, implemented, and continuously monitored comprehensive risk control programs focused on accident prevention, emergency preparedness, and environmental protection—resulting in measurable safety improvements.
- Delivered industrial safety training workshops and tailored hazard identification and evaluation programs to frontline workers, supervisors, and contractors—enhancing operational safety awareness and regulatory compliance.
Cost Control Engineer
Corpoven (affiliate of PDVSA) · Nov 1987 – Jul 1989· Venezuela
- Prepared comprehensive total project cost estimates to detect budget deviations early, enabling informed management decisions and the development of timely corrective measures.
- Reviewed and maintained annual disbursement timetables for large-scale industrial projects, ensuring alignment with financial planning and execution milestones.
- Performed in-depth monthly variance analyses comparing planned versus actual disbursements, identifying root causes and providing detailed financial insights to stakeholders.
- Generated monthly disbursement forecasts to support project budgeting, resource allocation, and executive reporting accuracy.
Social Media.
I now create and share Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) research, insights, and best practices as a LinkedIn content creator. Browse my latest posts below to see how I translate complex safety regulations into accessible, actionable guidance for EHS professionals worldwide.
Services.
Reviews.
"There is no question about Luz's EHS expertise — you feel it immediately and are connected to the depth of her knowledge and commitment to safety. More importantly, I’ve seen her dedication firsthand. No matter who you are or where you engage with Luz, you receive elite-level professionalism and her full attention to detail and compliance."
Contact.
With over 30 years of international EHS leadership in the oil and energy sector, I bring strategic vision, regulatory expertise, and a proven track record in building safer, more compliant operations. I’m currently exploring new leadership opportunities in the U.S. where I can continue driving impact as a Director or Manager in Safety, Compliance, or Risk.
If you're building a team that values experience, integrity, and results — let’s connect.
