Meet the Team

Fernando De Melo CHSC

Principal Consultant & CEO

Fernando De Melo is the founder and Principal Consultant at Pacific Safety Consulting Group Inc. Fernando believes that at its core safety is about people. This philosophy is the foundation of Pacific Safety’s strong, successful client partnerships.

Fernando’s OHS career spans almost three decades and includes work across many sectors for clients such as the Vancouver Airport Authority, BOSA Development, City of Vancouver, BC Maritime Employers Association and the National Research Council of Canada. He has worked extensively in the construction industry, helping owners develop and implement industry-leading Contractor Safety Management Programs. Fernando has also spent over 10,0000 hours in the field in B.C. partnering with prime contractors and subcontractors. His experience has given him the unique ability to move from engagement in the field to strategic planning in the boardroom and has helped him emerge as a leader in this field.

Fernando obtained his Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC) professional designation in 2009. He is committed to being an active leader in the safety industry, and currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers’ Lower Mainland Chapter.

Key Elements of Value

• Over 25 years of OHS consulting experience in Canada, specifically in B.C. and Alberta
• Over 15 years of leadership experience
• 13 years of Contractor Safety Management experience
• Over 10,000 hours in the field experience
• ISO 45001:2018 Lead Auditor
• Business finance management experience

Sarah Slater B Sc

Manager of OHS Services & Senior Consultant

Sarah Slater is a Senior Consultant and Manager of OHS Services at Pacific Safety Consulting Group. With considerable experience and a keen interest in helping clients define and achieve OHS and wellness goals, Sarah’s expertise extends from safety system design to implementation to training, management and assessment.

Sarah joined Pacific Safety in 2017, bringing with her a Bachelors’ degree in Applied Environmental Science from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland and NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety as well as extensive on-the-job experience that includes several years in the aluminum industry as a Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Specialist, specializing in Training & Development and Safety & Environmental Management Systems.

As a Senior Consultant at Pacific Safety, Sarah continues to work in close partnership with clients to develop and implement safety management systems, while also providing valuable mentorship and guidance to the company’s team of safety advisors.

Key Elements of Value

• Extensive experience developing and implementing Contractor Safety Management Programs across industries
• Expertise in the development of risk registers
• Considerable work with Management Systems development and implementation
• Auditing Management Systems in preparation for Certificate of Recognition (COR), ISO 14001 and ISO 45001
• Training Management Program development and implementation

Adriana Almeida

Safety Advisor

Adriana Almeida is a Senior Safety Advisor at Pacific Safety Consulting Group. Adriana joined the Pacific Safety team in 2019, bringing with her a passion for health and safety as well as a solid background in industries as diverse as construction, oil and gas and telecommunications. She is an enthusiastic team player – something that consistently shines through in the partnerships she has built with both clients and colleagues.

Adriana holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety Engineering from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. She also has a graduate diploma in Safety and Risk Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her strong educational background has been reinforced by over a decade of experience working in the field.

Key Elements of Value

• 10+ years of field work
• Extensive experience in industrialized facilities including oil rigs and heavy construction
• Expertise in facilitating risk assessment tabletop workshops

Adrian Mac Donnell

Team Lead & Safety Advisor

Adrian Mac Donnell is a Safety Advisor in the YVR Contractor Safety. Adrian achieved his bachelor degree, in Environmental Health and Safety Systems from the National University of Galway, Ireland. He moved to British Columbia in 2016 and has worked in both the medical and construction field.

Adrian is extremely passionate about safety and enjoys the diversity this industry provides. He has experience in the medical field including CE approval on machines, risk assessments and air and water sampling. He was also part of the team that implemented pictogram risk assessments throughout the workplace which simplified work tasks and provided a key understanding of the task in hand. He has conducted toolbox talks, evacuation procedures, site inspections and believes communication, passion and a willingness to learn is key to a strong safety culture.

Kayleigh Howie

Safety Advisor

Kayleigh Howie is a Safety Advisor with Pacific Safety, having joined the company in 2019. She is an excellent communicator, able to develop strong, successful relationships with clients and colleagues alike.

Kayleigh holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Geography from the University of Guelph and has considerable experience implementing health and safety programs in the construction, telecommunications and hospitality industries. 

At Pacific Safety, Kayleigh works extensively on the development of safe work practices and policies for clients, to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. 

Key elements of value:

• COR (Certificate of Recognition) program development
• Health and safety program implementation
• Training development and facilitation
• Site inspections and incident investigations

Síne O’Reilly M Sc

Safety Generalist

Síne O’Reilly joined Pacific Safety as a Safety Generalist in 2021, working with the Contractor Safety Management group at the Vancouver Airport Authority. Her work ethic, detail-oriented approach to health and safety, and genuine interest in making a positive impact and finding safe solutions to prevent workplace accidents make her a valuable addition to the team.

Síne holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway and also a Master of Science degree in Environmental Health and Safety from Technological University Dublin. Prior to starting her role at Pacific Safety, she worked as a Health, Safety, Quality and Environment Officer at Dunne Brothers Ltd, a leading Civil Engineering & Plant Hire Contractor in Ireland, where she worked on HSQE system improvement, and later as an Environmental, Health and Safety Advisor at Glenveagh Properties PLC before her move to Canada.

At YVR, Síne supports the implementation and monitoring of an industry-leading Contractor Safety Management program. Her works includes auditing contractors’ safety management systems, conducting site inspections and job observations to assess compliance and liaising with stakeholders at various levels to identify and communicate risk and mitigation strategies.

Sean Sheahan

Safety Advisor

Sean Sheahan is a Safety Advisor in the YVR Contractor Safety Team. Being native to Ireland, he achieved his bachelor’s degree in 2015 from the University of Limerick and continued his studies in the National University of Ireland Galway where he completed a postgraduate Higher Diploma in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety in 2017. This course provided him with a high-quality qualification in the multidisciplinary area of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). Sean is also working towards his MSc (Master’s degree) in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety with the National University of Ireland following the completion of his Higher Diploma in 2017. Commencing his working career in the construction industry in Ireland, Sean moved to British Columbia in 2018 where he continues to work in various areas of the construction industry as a safety professional.

Sean is a competent and committed Health & Safety Professional. He has gained knowledge and experience implementing the necessary Regulations through following the appropriate Acts in Incident Reporting, Site Auditing, Return to Work Programs and the creation of Safe Work Procedures. Sean is extremely passionate about safety and enjoys the diversity this industry provides. His commitment to detail and passion to communicate safety ideas and strategies is evident as he conducts/develops toolbox talks, evacuation procedures, site inspections and believes working with your fellow workers and a willingness to learn is pivotal to a strong safety culture.

Latoya Samuels

Safety Generalist

Latoya Samuels joined Pacific Safety as a Safety Generalist in 2022. She brings with her a deeply rooted commitment to improving and promoting workers’ safety through innovation and education.

Latoya holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a focus on Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health from the University of the West Indies (Mona). After completing her degree, she worked for several years as a Safety Officer at Petrojam Limited, a large petroleum refinery located in Jamaica. In this role, she was responsible for preparing and conducting safety training, developing OHS policies and procedures, conducting incident investigations and more.

Since coming to Pacific Safety, Latoya has become a valued member of the company’s industry-leading contractor safety team at YVR.