An Aboriginal artist at work in Woorabinda, Australia, as part of a project to boost community businessSafety and sustainable development issues are recognised as key value drivers within Anglo American. We have structured our organisation in such a way that enables us to perform effectively while operating safely and responsibly.
Safety, sustainability and responsibility are embedded in everything we do, such as the design and evaluation of projects, mine planning and decommissioning, and ways in which we raise financial capital to fund our projects.
In 2010, safety and sustainable development was formally incorporated into project and operational review processes, with the aims of unlocking value, mitigating future risks and maximising opportunities.
Embedding standards
Embedding the principles of sustainability into every aspect of our business requires rigour and focus. We are committed to high standards of governance in order to deliver responsible mining.
Our comprehensive set of rigorous standards forms part of the four Anglo American Way documents that guide the establishment of systems for managing health, safety, the environment and social development at Group, business unit and site levels.
Each of these documents outlines our vision, principles, policies, frameworks and management system requirements as they relate to their respective focus areas. Principles underlying all four documents include zero harm, no repeats and simple, non-negotiable standards.
All service providers acting on our behalf are expected to adopt and follow these Group standards and policies. We also promote the adoption of comparable standards in joint ventures or associate companies.
Our Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox (SEAT) enables us to better understand the concerns, priorities and needs of local people. It is based on comprehensive local stakeholder engagement, assesses direct and indirect Group impacts, and helps us find ways to help to support improved local development outcomes. SEAT is in place at all Anglo American operations.
In 2010, we launched a Group-wide policy for local procurement, with the objective of improving access by local businesses to supply chain opportunities.
Governance
Overseeing all sustainable development initiatives is the Safety and Sustainable Development (S&SD) Committee of the Anglo American Board. This group meets quarterly, under the chairmanship of non-executive director Peter Woicke and includes chairman Sir John Parker and chief executive Cynthia Carroll. It provides strategic oversight on safety and sustainable development issues, reviews the Group’s performance on material risks and implementation of policy, and monitors relevant national and international regulatory and technical developments. The Board is supported by sustainable development executive and management committees that are responsible for setting and executing policy.