Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 113,759	$ 105,925
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,610 and $8,189	209,514	232,862
Inventories (Note 3)	103,066	125,849
Prepaid income taxes	16,378	8,745
Notes receivable, insurance companies (Note 19)	4,180	6,746
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	25,909	24,485
Total current assets	472,806	504,612
Property, plant, and equipment, net (Note 4)	148,678	155,839
Prepaid pension cost (Note 14)	62,916	62,072
Deferred tax assets (Note 9)	23,240	26,455
Goodwill (Note 12)	333,276	340,338
Intangible assets, net (Note 12)	77,015	90,068
Notes receivable, insurance companies, noncurrent (Note 19)	63,147	1,944
Insurance receivable (Note 19) and other noncurrent assets	172,842	241,535
Total assets	1,353,920	1,422,863
Current Liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt (Note 11)	26,666	6,650
Accounts payable	62,734	68,206
Employees’ compensation	39,880	37,642
Insurance and product liability (Note 19)	19,438	57,718
Taxes on income (Note 9)	3,889	11,658
Other current liabilities	68,803	70,013
Total current liabilities	221,410	251,887
Long-term debt, net (Note 11)	363,836	458,022
Pensions and other employee benefits (Note 14)	157,927	156,160
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 9)	34,044	24,872
Other noncurrent liabilities (Note 19)	15,491	14,794
Total liabilities	792,708	905,735
Commitments and contingencies (Note 19)
Mine Safety Appliances Company shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, 4 1/2% cumulative, $50 par value (Note 6)	3,569	3,569
Common stock, no par value (180,000,000 shares authorized; 62,081,391 shares issued; 37,736,578 and 37,372,474 shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively)	172,681	157,643
Treasury shares, at cost (Note 6)	(289,254)	(295,070)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(230,246)	(208,199)
Retained earnings	901,415	858,553
Total MSA Safety Incorporated shareholders’ equity	558,165	516,496
Noncontrolling interests	3,047	632
Total shareholders’ equity	561,212	517,128
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,353,920	$ 1,422,863