A Global Perspective - BHP Billiton Sustainability Report 2005

HSEC Management Standard 8

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

US-UK Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

World Bank Operational Directive on Involuntary Resettlement

Governance - Our Performance - Management Systems Review

No transgressions within the Group's activities of the principles embodied within the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights were identified.

We made further progress preparing and revising our detailed policy, management standards, targets, protocols and guidelines.

Governance - Our Performance - Audit and Self Assessment

A total of twelve HSEC audits were conducted during the reporting period.

Community - Our Performance - Human Rights
Human Rights Self Assessment - implementation, 40 per cent of sites have completed the self assessment.

Governance - Our Performance - Business Conduct
There were 103 substantive enquiries to the Business Conduct Helpline and fraud hotline systems.

Case Studies

The selection of case studies illustrates how we have progressed with regards to upholding fundamental human rights across the areas of health, safety, environment, community and socio-economics.

Principle 2: Businesses should make sure their own corporations are not complicit in human rights abuses

HSEC Management Standard 8

Human Rights Self Assessment Toolkit

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

US-UK Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

World Bank Operational Directive on Involuntary Resettlement

Governance - Our Performance - Audit and Self Assessment

No transgressions within the Group's activities of the principles embodied within the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights were identified.

A total of twelve HSEC audits were conducted during the reporting period.

Community - Our Performance - Human Rights

Human Rights Self Assessment - implementation, 40 per cent of sites have completed the self assessment.

Governance - Our Performance - Business Conduct

There were 103 substantive enquiries to the Business Conduct Helpline and fraud hotline systems.

Case Studies

The selection of case studies illustrates how we have progressed with regards to upholding fundamental human rights across the areas of health, safety, environment, community and socio-economics.

HR2

HR3

Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

Employment Principles

Letter to UN Secretary General from Chip Goodyear (December 2003)

Socio-economic - Our Performance- Employee Relations

Employee relations arrangements at individual workplaces are required to respect local legislative requirements and other local standards and circumstances.

All employees are free to join trade unions.

Socio-economic - Our Performance - Freedom of Association

Over 50 per cent of the workforce was covered by collective bargaining agreements at operated sites and offices.

Socio-economic - Our Performance- Remuneration

All Company employees earned greater than the stipulated minimum wage in the countries in which they worked.

HR5

LA3

LA4

Principle 4: Businesses should uphold the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour

Socio-economic - Our Performance- Child and Forced Labour

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

We exclude the use of child labour and prohibit forced labour at our operations.

Socio-economic - Our Performance- Remuneration

All Company employees earned greater than the stipulated minimum wage in the countries in which they worked.

HR7

Principle 5: Businesses should uphold the effective abolition of child labour

Socio-economic - Our Performance- Child and Forced Labour

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

We excluded the use of child and forced labour at our operations. The youngest employees were 16.5 years of age, working as apprentices/administrative trainees in our Australian operations.

HR6

Principle 6: Businesses should uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

Employment Principles

Socio-economic - Our Performance- Employee Profile

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

A breakdown of employee numbers by region is presented in the chart.

Socio-economic - Our Performance- Diversity

Approximately 12 per cent of full-time employees at operated sites and offices were women.

Socio-economic - Our Performance - Diversity - Employment Equity in South Africa

To address historical issues in South Africa, which resulted in the majority of South Africans being excluded from participating in the mainstream economy, BHP Billiton South Africa adopted an empowerment strategy of change.

Socio-economic - Our Performance - Diversity - Indigenous Employment and Training

We recognise indigenous employment and training as an important issue and, as has been reported in previous years, undertake a number of initiatives in this regard.

Black Economic Empowerment Procurement Policy implemented across our sites in southern Africa

EKATI training program promotes sustainable new careers in the emerging Canadian underground diamond mining industry

Mozal - a model for integrating sustainability into resource projects

HR4

LA10

LA11

Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges

HSEC Management Standards (PDF 284KB

HSEC Management Standard 3

Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Policy

Governance - Our Performance- Risk Management

Risk registers are in place and maintained at all required sites, businesses and Corporate levels.

An HSEC risk assessment project was established, which will continue over the coming year.

Selbaie Mine develops environmental program for the long term

The Worsley Alumina Air Emissions Impact Assessment Project

Land rehabilitation programs at Cerrejón and Mt Arthur Coal show the value of mine closure planning

Recognising and managing the impacts of our operations on biodiversity values

3.13

Principle 8: Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility

HSEC Management Standard 5

HSEC Management Standard 12

Environment - Our Performance - Environmental Management Systems

Three Level 3 environmental incidents.
100 per cent of required self assessments were completed at operating sites.
All sites requiring ISO 14001 are certified or have been recommended for certification by their ISO auditor.
Energy conservation plans in place at all required sites and at 11 sites that were below the emissions threshold.
Greenhouse gas management programs in place at all required sites and at 12 sites that were below the emissions threshold.
Water management plans in place at 98 per cent of required sites and at 26 sites that were below the usage threshold.
Waste minimisation programs in place at 98 per cent of required sites and at 14 sites that were not required to meet this target.
Land management plans in place at 98 per cent of required sites and at 21 sites that were not required to meet this target.
Life cycle assessments completed for all major minerals products. In addition, we have also commenced work on the life cycle assessments of several minor products.

During the reporting period we continued to strengthen environmental management systems across our operations

Environment - Our Performance - Closure Standard Update

We progressed implementation of the Company-wide Closure Standard.

Environment - Our Approach - Climate Change

We are working on activities related to climate change risks and opportunities in a number of ways.

Environment - Our Performance- Biodiversity

Over the reporting period we progressed a number of aspects ranging from biodiversity plans at some sites through to biodiversity-related research and development.

Working towards our water target

Land rehabilitation programs at Cerrejón and Mt Arthur Coal show the value of mine closure planning

Recognising and managing the impacts of our operations on biodiversity values

Managing dust suppression issues at our operations

Principle 9: Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies

HSEC Management Standard 9

HSEC Management Standard 12

Governance - Our Performance - Stewardship

Three Level 3 environmental incidents.
100 per cent of required self assessments were completed at operating sites.
All sites requiring ISO 14001 are certified or have been recommended for certification by their ISO auditor.
Energy conservation plans in place at all required sites and at 11 sites that were below the emissions threshold.
Greenhouse gas management programs in place at all required sites and at 12 sites that were below the emissions threshold.
Water management plans in place at 98 per cent of required sites and at 26 sites that were below the usage threshold.
Waste minimisation programs in place at 98 per cent of required sites and at 14 sites that were not required to meet this target.
Land management plans in place at 98 per cent of required sites and at 21 sites that were not required to meet this target.
Life cycle assessments completed for all major minerals products. In addition, we have also commenced work on the life cycle assessments of several minor products.

Over the past year we have been working to refine our understanding of stewardship and how we can better integrate it into our organisation.

Environment - Our Performance - Environmental Spending

Over the reporting period environmental expenditure for the Group totalled US$267 million.

Environment - Our Performance- Biodiversity

Over the reporting period we progressed a number of aspects ranging from biodiversity plans at some sites through to biodiversity-related research and development.

Working towards our water target

Managing dust suppression issues at our operations

EN17

Principle 10: Businesses should work against all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery