Hierarchy of Systems and Documents
Sustainable development is a global concept – yet implementation tends to have most meaning and relevance in local situations. As a result, our focus is on establishing management systems that can be consistently applied at local levels, while meeting governance requirements specified at the Company-wide level. Sustainable development at BHP Billiton is put into practice through the effective implementation of our HSEC management system.
The BHP Billiton HSEC management system is hierarchical, where documents and systems meet and support the requirements of those at higher levels. In line with our HSEC target, all our major operating sites have now achieved and are required to maintain ISO 14001 certification.
BHP Billiton Hierarchy of Systems and Documents
See below for further details on the key aspects of our management system hierarchy:
- Company Charter
- Sustainable Development Policy
- HSEC Management Standards
- Company-Wide Procedures, Protocols, Guidelines and Toolkits.
There are also a number of other key management processes, which although managed by areas external to the HSEC function, are integral to our ability to contribute to sustainable development. These include business conduct, risk management, audit and investment.
Company Charter
Central to our business is our Company Charter, which states our 'overriding commitment to health, safety, environmental responsibility and sustainable development'. Honesty and transparency are core to this commitment and, importantly, the Charter also recognises that 'to prosper and achieve real growth, we must …earn the trust of employees, customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders by being forthright in our communications and consistently delivering on commitments'.
Sustainable Development Policy
Supporting the values of our Charter is our Sustainable Development Policy. While we strive to deliver strong financial returns to shareholders, we fully recognise and deliver on our wider responsibilities to our stakeholders: as the Policy states ' our objective is to be the company of choice – creating sustainable value for our shareholders, employees, contractors, suppliers, customers, business partners and host communities.' Integral to this is our aspiration to Zero Harm.
Knowing that much of our success as a global company depends on how effectively we work with our employees, contractors and host communities, the Policy is central to our future success. While the Policy broadly aligns with a number of international conventions, such as the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it also requires that we meet or, where less stringent than our standards, exceed applicable legal and other requirements. As such, the Policy recognises that where governments implement international conventions, such as those of the International Labour Organisation, we will comply.
The Policy underpins our management systems and sets the foundation from which we operate. Wherever we operate, sustainable development aspects are addressed in our decision-making processes, alongside other business considerations.
Download our Policy Guide (PDF 468 Kb) for a detailed explanation on the rationale behind our Policy objectives.
HSEC Management Standards
The BHP Billiton HSEC Management Standards form the basis for the development and application of HSEC management systems at all levels in the Company and represent a key process through which we drive our contribution to sustainable development.
Purpose and application
The objectives of the Standards are to:
- support the implementation of the Charter, the Sustainable Development Policy and the Guide to Business Conduct across BHP Billiton
- provide a risk-based HSEC management system framework, consistent with:
- the BHP Billiton Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Policy
- ISO 14001
- OHSAS 18001
- SA 8000
- other international policies, standards and management practices to which BHP Billiton has committed, including the:
- UN Global Compact
- UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Sustainable Development Framework
- World Bank Operational Directive on Involuntary Resettlement
- US-UK Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
- other regional commitments
- set out and formalise the expectations for progressive development and implementation of more specific and detailed HSEC management systems at all levels of BHP Billiton
- provide auditable criteria, against which HSEC management systems across BHP Billiton can be measured
- provide a basis from which to drive continual improvement towards leading industry practice.
The Standards are reviewed at least every three years. They cover all operational aspects and activities with the potential to affect the four key components of sustainable development:
- Health – promoting and improving the health of the company's workforce and host communities
- Safety – ensuring that safety values are not compromised, and providing a workplace where people are able to work without being injured
- Environment – promoting the efficient use of resources, reducing and preventing pollution and enhancing biodiversity protection
- Community –
- internal community – engaging regularly with employees and contractors, where everyone is treated fairly and with respect and can realise their full potential; upholding ethical business practices, and encouraging a diverse workforce
- external community – engaging regularly with those affected by BHP Billiton operations, enhancing economic benefits and contributing to sustainable community development
- human rights – understanding, promoting and upholding fundamental human rights within BHP Billiton's sphere of influence.
The Standards cover the entire life cycle of operations, from exploration and planning through to operation and closure (decommissioning, remediation and rehabilitation) and apply to all BHP Billiton sites and operations throughout the world, including:
- facilities and activities (from exploration through to closure and rehabilitation) that are owned or operated by BHP Billiton
- development projects
- mergers
- acquisitions
- divestments
- major activities by contractors on our sites or under our management.
Where the Company has no operational responsibility but has an equity stake, or significant Company assets are involved, the Standards are made available to the operator so that comparable HSEC standards can be applied.
Our HSEC Management Standards include a requirement for an auditing process to check that our Charter, Sustainable Development Policy and Standards are being applied and to verify performance. The audits are designed to address the degree of implementation of our HSEC management systems and their effectiveness in meeting the Group's needs and those of the business being audited. During any year, those sites not scheduled for a Corporate HSEC audit must complete a self-assessment against the Standards and prepare performance improvement plans to progress to full conformance with the Standards. Read more: Audit.
Coverage
There are 15 HSEC Management Standards, each with a number of performance requirements that provide the detail by which our sites establish systems and processes to meet the intent of each standard.
Download: the complete HSEC Management Standards and their associated performance requirements.
The framework for the HSEC Management Standards is based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act model.
HSEC Management Standards continual improvement model
All aspects of performance are incorporated into the HSEC Management Standards, including
- accountabilities
- risk assessment and management
- business planning and target setting for improvement
- communication
- training and awareness
- emergency response
- performance monitoring and auditing
- management review.
The Standards require that reporting processes be based on key risks and that environmental and occupational accident and illness reporting processes comply with the relevant laws in the regions where we operate.
All sites are required to have consultation and communication processes for both internal and external stakeholders. Internally, sites must establish processes that comprise management, employee and contractor representation to address and review HSEC issues. Externally, systems must be put in place to identify and work with communities and other stakeholders. Read more: Engaging Stakeholders.
Management Standard 11 requires operations to evaluate the social and environmental performance of contractors, suppliers and partners, including such issues as human rights records and previous environmental incidents. Read more: Our Approach>Supply.
Management Standard 12 – Stewardship covers the consumption end of our material life cycle. Read more: Stewardship.
Management Standard 14 – Crisis and Emergency Management outlines our expectations for the establishment of systems and processes to deal with potential emergencies and the consequent mitigation of any related HSEC impacts.
To ensure that HSEC management requirements are embedded into significant investment decisions, an investment process has been established that covers a range of investment types and establishes how all investments are to be reviewed and authorised. Read more: Investment Processes.
Company-Wide Procedures, Protocols, Guidelines and Toolkits
Company-wide procedures and protocols are mandatory to all BHP Billiton sites, operations and controlled activities. These documents address specific areas where it is important that activities are conducted consistently across the Company, and cover such areas as corporate performance reporting, Fatal Risk Control Protocols, and incident reporting and investigation.
Company-wide guidelines are advisory only and guide our businesses on effective implementation of the HSEC Management Standards. Company-wide Toolkits provide preferred methods for meeting the requirements of the HSEC Management Standards and the Company-wide procedures, protocols and guidelines. They are not mandatory.
