The TTC says it has launched an investigation into a “concerning” incident in which an employee publicly shamed a transit rider for smelling bad.

A short video posted Thursday on Twitter showed an operator making an announcement to the riders that there is an “extremely foul-smelling” person on the train, and that the person is refusing to leave the transit system.

“If you do not like that smell, please call the TTC and complain,” the operator can be heard telling customers.

The operator said he regrets that there’s nothing he can do about it, because “the TTC keeps allowing them on the system, even though they don’t have the right to be there.”

In the 41-second video recording, the operator does not say anything about who this person with a bad smell is, but indicates that such people make other commuters’ ride “very, very uncomfortable.” The operator adds that it’s a health-and-safety issue.

It is not clear where the incident took place, or whether there was any transit delay due to it.

The Twitter user who posted the video accompanied it with comments that indicated the operator’s lack of respect and decency for passnegers.

“There must be a better way. I’m appalled,” the person noted in a tweet.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green told the Star in an email that the agency was aware of the incident, and that an investigation has been started. He did not want to disclose any disciplinary action an operator could face.

“We don’t comment on specific personnel matters, but, as a rule, we cannot and would not remove a customer from a train because of how they smell,” he wrote.

“If operators suspect a person is in distress or if there is a risk to the public, they are directed to contact transit control and await further instruction.”

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Carlos Santos, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, didn’t address this incident in particular, but said, in a system with 1.7 million riders every day, transit operators are increasingly dealing with stressful circumstances that often have a negative impact on riders’ comfort and safety.

“We recognize the need for our city to address broader social issues pertaining to mental health, poverty and public safety,” he said in a statement.

“At the same time, the TTC needs to invest more to protect riders and operators who are increasingly dealing with difficult situations and assaults on the job. Urgent action is needed now to make the TTC a safer transit system for all.”