“People have to say enough is enough. We need to know.”
— Howard Willems, SADAO co-founder
SADAO was founded by Howard Willems and Bob Sass.
HOWARD WILLEMS:
1981 – 2012: Employed as an Inspector with the Government of Canada
1995 – 2011: Co-chaired local and regional OH&S committees and was a member of a National Policy OH&S committee for 6 years
In November of 2010, Howard was diagnosed with mesothelioma (an asbestos related cancer of the lungs) and underwent extensive medical treatment. The Saskatchewan WCB classified Howard’s mesothelioma as a work related injury
Howard was on injury-on-duty leave since 2010 and officially retired from the Federal Government in 2012
Howard started working with Bob Sass in 2004 on OH&S and asbestos related issues
In 2010 they worked together to evolve the Sask. Ban Asbestos Committee into the SADAO
This committee is actively working on establishing a registry and providing information to victims of asbestos-related diseases
Howard Willems passed away on November 8, 2012
BOB SASS:
1973 – 1982: Executive director of Saskatchewan OH&S branch and Associate Deputy Minister of Labour
1983 – 2005: College of Commerce Director of Labour Studies and Professor of Industrial Relations
Retired as Professor Emeritus University of Saskatchewan in 2005
Bob has been working on asbestos files since mid 1970’s. In 1977 he introduced asbestos regulations in the Saskatchewan OH&S Act to include no threshold limits for exposure (the first in Canada)
In retirement Bob continued working on asbestos issues on the National Ban Asbestos committee under the direction of Kathleen Ruff
Bob brought the Ban Asbestos campaign to Saskatchewan under the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
This committee evolved into SADAO in 2010. This committee is actively working on establishing a registry and providing information to victims of asbestos-related diseases
