Workplace Mental Health at BHP Billiton †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Workplace Mental Health at BHP Billiton. Answer: Introduction Ok Tedi is the open pit copper and gold mine situated in Papua New Guinea. The mining site located near the Ok Tedi River in the Star Mountains Rural LLG in the North Fly District of the Western Province. BHP Billton on the other hand is a Melbourne based international mining company. BHP Billton extracts and processes the minerals, oil and gas primarily from Australia and America (bhp.com. 2017). This report will focus on the ethical issue of BHP occurred in Ok Tedi mine. A detailed study of the companys CSR policy will be conducted to understand the responsibility and operational strategies. BHP was sued by the Papua New Guinea landowner in the Victorian Supreme Court of in Melbourne in 1994. The allegations were drawn on BHP stating that the company is causing environmental degradation by dumping the mine tailings waste into the rivers of Ok Tedi and Fly. The company came to an out-of-court settlement of AUUS$40 million in financial compensation along with the dredging of tailing from the rivers to stop further damage in 1996. The company was again alleged in 2000 for breaching the terms of 1996 settlement. It led the company to withdraw its operations form Ok Tedi mine to the Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program Limited transferring about 52% of its equity stake management (Business-humanrights.org. 2017). The company had to pay a AUS$ 40 million to the state in financial mode for violating the environmental responsibilities and causing a serious degradation of the nature. Moreover, their actions resulted in a degradation of the fish communities nearby. In addition to the monitory payment, the company also had to take part in the process of dredging the tailing out of the rivers. It will limit the further damage. BHP CSR Activities Companys CSP policy communicates the ethical pursuit of the company to it major stakeholders. According to their policy, the considers zero tolerance for the misconducts of discrimination, compliance with law, corruption, bribery and extortion, biofuels, world heritage sites and protected areas, freedom of association, workplace health and safety, living wages, treatment of employees, forced or compulsory labour, child labour and the environment (OCallaghan and Graetz 2017). According to BHP, they operate accordingly to the manner, which is protective of the environment and comply with all applicable environment laws, regulation and standard. However the case occurred in Ok Tedi on 1994 reflects actions differently causing the environmental degradation. It resulted in deforestation of more than 3000 square kilometers turning the tropical rain forests into savannahs. It also caused a significant degradation of the fish population (OCallaghan and Graetz 2017). The company communicates their CSR information to the stakeholders for better manage their operations. Moreover, they have a process of receiving feedback from their major stakeholders that will in turn help them in managing the business in a more ethical manner (OCallaghan and Graetz 2017). BHP claims that their CSR policy considers the health and safety of their employees and set the workplace accordingly. The CSR policy of the company states that it ensures the safety and health of the working forces. Further it takes appropriate precautionary measures to protect employees from work related hazards and anticipated dangers. Moreover, the company assures the supply of health and safety training to their employees on a regular basis. However, the practicality differs from their stated CSR policy. However, the report produced at Beyond Blue, the workers of BHP are expected to suffer mental health condition in their life time due to working in BHP worldwide. The mental health was identified as an issue in BHP workplace that needs immediate attention. However, the maximum number of workers in BHP is male who denies to receive any kind of assistance of mental health. However, the company readdressed its CSR policy by including the mental wellness standards, which was launche d in 2014 (mqmentalhealth.org. 2017). The company seeks the highest level of governance for their organization and strives to foster a culture to value and reward the exemplary ethical standards, personal and corporate integrity and respect for others (BHP Billiton. 2017). They have different governance practices and bound by them. They are: Constitution of BHP Billton Limited Memorandum Corporate Governance Statement They also formed board committees that operate under specific terms that includes: Board Governance Terms of Appointment of Non-Executive Director Non-Executive Director Induction Program Remuneration Committee Risk and Audit Committee Nomination and Governance Committee Sustainability Committee Finance Committee Furthermore, the company has some of the core policies by which, all the operations are coordinated. They are: Code of Business Conduct Securities Dealing Provision of Audit and Other Services by the External Auditor Market Disclosure and Communications Independence of Directors Policy Our Approach to Diversity Results and Effects Though the CSR policies stated by the company reflects the responsibilities of undertaken by the company is neat, they considerably varies in actuality. The OK Tedi is a key example that highlights the loopholes in the CSR policy of BHP Billton. Though they state some of the eye catching CSR policies and claims to be bound by the rules, their actions considerably deviates. They actions have cost a number of stakeholders and also threaten the environmental disasters in their workplace. BHP Billton Foundation is an extension of the BHP Billton mining company that volunteers to the social causes. This is a charity firm that aims to make a distinctive contribution to the unprecedented sustainable development challenges faced by the current generation (bhp.com. 2017). Conclusion The report can conclude that the CSR policy management stated by the company is well articulated and well structured. The company can truly achieve the sustainability by following the CSR policies set by them. However, there is a significant gap between the policy stated and the operations undertaken by the company. They failed to address the policies which resulted into the case of OK tedi and degraded the environmental condition harming the major stakeholders in the area. References BHP Billiton. 2017.BHP Billiton | Governance. [online] Available at: https://www.bhp.com/our-approach/our-company/governance [Accessed 28 Oct. 2017]. bhp.com. 2017.BHP Billiton | About us. [online] Available at: https://www.bhp.com/our-approach/our-company/about-us [Accessed 28 Oct. 2017]. bhp.com. 2017.BHP Billiton | BHP Billiton Foundation. [online] Available at: https://www.bhp.com/community/bhp-billiton-foundation [Accessed 28 Oct. 2017]. Business-humanrights.org. 2017.BHP lawsuit (re Papua New Guinea) | Business Human Rights Resource Centre. [online] Available at: https://business-humanrights.org/en/bhp-lawsuit-re-papua-new-guinea [Accessed 28 Oct. 2017]. mqmentalhealth.org. 2017.Workplace mental health at BHP Billiton. [online] Available at: https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/articles/bhp-billiton-work-place-mental-health-case-study [Accessed 28 Oct. 2017]. OCallaghan, T. and Graetz, G., 2017. Introduction. InMining in the Asia-Pacific(pp. 1-15). Springer, Cham.