The Community Partners program is designed to improve the relationship between the oil and gas industry and surrouding communities. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Oil and gas companies in Alberta are being encouraged to sign on to a new program that would see them promise to treat communities with more respect.

The Community Partners program was launched in response to complaints from residents about dust, traffic, speeding, noise and garbage near drilling activity.

It is a voluntary initiative aimed at getting oil and gas companies to commit to teaching employees how to improve their behaviour.

Roger Soucy of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada, the industry group running the initiative, said those problems may seem small, but they can be incredibly irritating for residents.

"Part of the attempt of this program is to deal with the little things right up front so they don't become major, major issues at town hall meetings later on down the road."

Soucy said it's important for field workers to communicate with local residents in order to build positive relationships with communities.

He's aiming for the program to have a lasting impact.

"We are very hopeful that as companies sign on to the program, that they'll it take to heart," Soucy said.

"The province has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, and we are much more in people's faces than we were 30 years ago when everything was the boonies.… So the industry is making efforts to deal with that situation."

There are no specific penalties tied to the program, but Soucy said companies will discipline employees if they receive complaints.