How To (or Should We) Tell a Co-Worker About Smell

We have a co-worker with a colostomy.  At times during the day, the smell is very noticeable and unpleasant for people sitting nearby.  Is there anyway to tactfully let him know that there is a problem?  Nobody has been willing to address this issue, but we all know about it.  He seems oblivious to the problem.

I'm afraid there is no tactful way :(

I would discreetly take the co-worker aside and say to him that you (don't mention the others cos the more that he thinks have noticed, the more humiliated he will be). Mention to him that you have visited some sites regarding ostomy surgery (this might let him know that you're not being mean, but are interested in what he's going through) and have read that there are deodorisers available if needed.

To be honest, there really should be no odour. The bags are odourproof. The only time there should be odour is, of course, when the person goes to the loo (but then even 'bowel intact' people have a problem with odour while in the loo) or if the person has developed a leak in their bag. This person may not realise that he is causing a problem and may be greatful to you for pointing it out.

You could even suggest that there are special ostomy deodorisers available but 3% hydrogen peroxide is one of the cheapest (and most effective in my opinion).

Good luck. Do try to be sensitive but given the nature of the problem, it's going to be hard to tell him I know.

well i am going to look at this as if he is just a reg person (not an ostomate) with an odor problem. One of the places i used to work at we had a woman who smelled horrible, she actually had an ostomy, but her problem was because she didnt' bathe, she just put powder all over herself. It was making customers and employees sick. One of the managers spoke to her in private to see if their was anything anyone could do to help, which is when we found out it was because she didnt' bathe and rarely got to wash her clothes. She didnt' have access to a washer, and she was very very heavy. So, the manager called her family and htey helped her get clean, and that helped alot. We didnt' even know she had the ostomy until after all this was over.
Like NeNe i am worried about my bag smellign too, and always checking for that, i am almost OCD about it. And there really shouldnt' be any smell. I suggest either calling a family member, like NeNe suggested or going to a manager and having them discuss it with the person.