OUR APPROACH TO HEALTH, SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT
AND THE COMMUNITY

BHP BILLITON’S SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT POLICY

At BHP Billiton our objective is to be the company of choice – creating
sustainable value for our shareholders, employees, contractors, suppliers,
customers, business partners and host communities.

We aspire to Zero Harm to people, our host communities and the environment
and strive to achieve leading industry practice. Sound principles to govern
safety, business conduct, social, environmental and economic activities are
integral to the way we do business.

Wherever we operate we will develop, implement and maintain management systems
for sustainable development that drive continual improvement and ensure we:

• do not compromise our safety values, and seek ways to promote and improve the health of our
workforce and the community

• identify, assess and manage risks to employees, contractors, the environment and our host
communities

• uphold ethical business practices and meet or, where less stringent than our standards,
exceed applicable legal and other requirements

• understand, promote and uphold fundamental human rights within our sphere of influence,
respecting the traditional rights of Indigenous peoples and valuing cultural heritage

• encourage a diverse workforce and provide a work environment in which everyone is treated
fairly, with respect and can realise their full potential

• set and achieve targets that promote efficient use of resources and include reducing and
preventing pollution

• enhance biodiversity protection by assessing and considering ecological values and land-use
aspects in investment, operational and closure activities

• engage regularly, openly and honestly with people affected by our operations, and take their
views and concerns into account in our decision-making

• develop partnerships that foster the sustainable development of our host communities,
enhance economic benefits from our operations and contribute to poverty alleviation

• work with those involved through the lifecycles of our products and by-products to promote
their responsible use and management

• regularly review our performance and publicly report our progress.

In implementing this Policy, we will engage with and support our employees, contractors,
suppliers, customers, business partners and host communities in sharing responsibility for
meeting our requirements.

We will be successful when we achieve our targets towards Zero Harm, are valued by
our host communities, and provide lasting social, environmental and economic benefits
to society.

Chip Goodyear
Chief Executive Officer

September 2005