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.
Safety Training & Development Manager, Upgrading Division
PDVSA · Sept. 2018 – Aug. 2023
- 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 and Health Manager, Upgrading Division
PDVSA, Jose Industrial Complex · July 2014 – Sept. 2018
- Led Safety and Health performance for PDVSA's Upgrading Division, overseeing 4 major upgrader plants, 1 mixing facility, and the national marine terminal responsible for 70% of Venezuela's crude oil exports; embedded a culture of zero harm aligned with high-risk industrial standards.
- Managed a multidisciplinary safety workforce of 100+ professionals across PetroMonagas, PetroPiar, PetroSan Felix, PetroCedeno, Petrolera Sinovensa, and shared infrastructure within the Jose Industrial Complex, implementing competency development programs aligned with long-term EHS&S capability building.
- Directed compliance initiatives and safety protocols in joint ventures with stakeholders from the U.S., Russia, China, France, and Norway, ensuring adherence to both national and international standards.
- Strengthened risk mitigation systems and emergency response planning, reducing operational hazards and enhancing readiness across critical oil infrastructure; led periodic hazard studies (HAZOP, WHAT IF) and ensured emergency response plans were site-certified and regularly updated.
- Facilitated safety audits, accident investigations, intercompany coordination, and reporting processes that aligned local operations with PDVSA corporate policies, OHSAS 18002 standards, and global oil industry best practices; generated key performance indicators to identify trends and drive targeted improvements.
Planning and Control Manager, Industrial Safety
Petroleum Venezuelan Corporation (CVP), PDVSA Affiliate · Aug. 2008 – June 2014
- Directed financial, administrative, and human resource planning for CVP's Industrial Safety Department, including budgeting, training programs, career development, and performance evaluation for all personnel.
- Oversaw annual departmental budgeting, cost control, and benefit approval processes, aligning resource planning with corporate safety objectives and operational constraints.
- Analyzed national incident data across 30+ mixed oil companies, developing company-wide safety improvement strategies and targeted training programs to address root causes and minimize recurrence.
- Coordinated safety and health oversight for mixed ventures across all geographic regions (western, eastern, Orinoco Belt, and offshore), ensuring regulatory compliance and consistent safety performance.
- Designed and implemented the department's annual work program, integrating data insights, stakeholder feedback, and corporate goals into a cohesive risk prevention framework.
Corporate Manager, Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS)
Petrozuata (ConocoPhillips and PDVSA Joint Venture) · Sept. 2007 – June 2008
- Led the Corporate Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) function for a strategic joint venture between ConocoPhillips and PDVSA, ensuring full regulatory compliance and operational alignment with global best practices.
- Oversaw EHS performance across the company's full production chain, including oil extraction, solids handling, and upgrader operations.
- Managed a specialized EHS workforce and provided expert guidance to all operational departments on risk mitigation, regulatory obligations, and environmental stewardship.
- Strengthened company-wide EHS culture by coordinating with regulatory bodies and internal stakeholders to implement high-impact initiatives and continuous improvement processes.
Senior Corporate Coordinator, Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS)
Petrozuata (ConocoPhillips and PDVSA Joint Venture) · Aug. 1998 – Sept. 2007
- Directed EHS performance across Petrozuata's full operational chain, including production, oil movement, solids handling, and upgrader activities, with a team of 50+ safety professionals.
- Provided strategic and regulatory guidance to all departments, ensuring compliance with national laws and international best practices in industrial safety and environmental management.
- Maintained active engagement with local and national EHS regulatory agencies, strengthening institutional alignment and securing operational approvals.
- Recognized for outstanding performance during the critical 20" diluent pipeline event (2000), and for key contributions to Petrozuata's completion milestones and EHS procedural integration efforts.
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.