
Contact Release Training | Qualified Person Training | Unqualified Person Training | Task Auditing and Observation
Peer Mentoring | Program Auditing | Needs Assessments | Arc Flash Risk Assessments
Meet the Team

Owner-Founder-Partner
Phil Haataja
Phil Haataja is an NFPA Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP) with nearly 28 years of experience working in commercial and industrial locations. While technically trained as a manufacturing engineer (Mfg.), Phil has developed his own leadership methodology by encouraging people to do the right thing, empowering them with authority to do so and enabling them with the correct tools to get the job done. Since 2016, he’s used this approach to help people across the country improve their approach to electrical safety to get it aligned with NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. He’s a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). In 2022 he was awarded the status of Senior Member in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and is
currently a member of the IEEE Power & Energy Society.
Phil is a registered non-code electrical instructor in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Alaska. He has authored a variety of classes to provide CEU’s to electricians in these states on topics involving electrical safety and power system analysis. In 2022, Phil received his certification as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) from the Minnesota Emergency Services Regulatory Board. Recently, in January 2023, he completed training to fulfill his MSHA Part 46 requirements for new miners. Phil has been called to be a guest speaker on electrical safety issues by the MN Chief Engineers Guild, the Minnesota Mine Safety Association, Iowa Ready Mix Concrete Association, and numerous clients and connections across the country.
He, his wife Cindy, and brother John Haataja are co-owners/partners of safeHANDSystems, LLC, and reside in Central Minnesota.

Owner-Founder-Partner
Cindy Haataja
Introducing Cindy, an Owner-Founder-Partner of safeHANDSystems where she teams up with her husband, Phil Haataja, and business partner John Haataja. A summa cum laude graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Cindy brings over 26 years of experience specifically in the credit, collections and accounts receivable sector, focusing on property management and electric cooperative utilities. As a hands-on leader, she is passionate about delivering exceptional performance and is eager to share her expertise to lead the safeHANDSystems financial team, ensuring top-notch customer service and fostering strong trust with clients. In her free time, Cindy enjoys spending time with family, fishing, traveling, shopping, and relaxing by the lake in Central Minnesota.

Owner-Partner
John Haataja
John has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and has 24+ years of experience in business process improvement, IT project management and software implementation.
He is a registered electrical safety instructor with the Minnesota Department of Labor and is an active member in both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and is passionate about helping clients identify and mitigate electrical safety risks in their facilities.
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Electrical Safety Engineer
Courtney Peine
Courtney holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. She has extensive experience as a machine design engineer spanning across various industries. For the past eight years, she has honed her experience in the safety field, now serving as an Electrical Safety Engineer at safeHANDSystems.
Courtney guides clients nationwide to achieve optimal electrical safety practices by understanding and implementing industry standards. With a genuine commitment to safety and compliance, she is dedicated to empowering people to always prioritize safety and make informed decisions. Courtney holds active memberships in both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Electrical Safety Technician II
Ben Aho
Meet Ben, a seasoned professional with a bachelor's degree in Hotel/Restaurant/Institutional Management and an impressive 18 years in the restaurant industry, including ownership of a national fast-food chain. His expertise extends to manufacturing, where he excelled as a CNC machinist. With 16 years dedicated service as a volunteer firefighter, including 12 years in an officer role, Ben is deeply committed to public safety. He is poised to make a significant impact at safeHANDSystems, focusing on raising awareness around electrical safety, fueled by his firsthand experience with emergency calls involving electrical injuries. Ben holds active memberships in both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
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