A Victorian panel beater that sacked a man for raising concerns about workplace asbestos has been fined $35,000.
Work was stopped at the Woods Auto Repairs Brunswick site in March 2009 after ceiling asbestos was dislodged in a storm.
Woods employee Max Merton refused to go back to work two days later, despite tests indicating the air was clean, the Victorian County Court was told.
In a heated exchange with the company's general manager Eugene McKeough, Mr Merton said he was still concerned about the possible presence of asbestos.
Mr Merton was sacked on the spot and has not been rehired.
Lawyers for Woods on Wednesday entered a guilty plea to a charge of dismissing an employee for raising an occupational health and safety concern.
Jane Dixon SC said the company had an excellent record for workplace health and safety, and had taken the asbestos threat seriously.
She said Mr Merton had been dismissed in the context of a heated argument and a major personality clash.
Judge Lisa Hannan fined Woods $35,000 and did not record a conviction.
