Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 104,427	$ 113,759
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,288 and $5,610	208,392	209,514
Inventories (Note 3)	117,621	103,066
Prepaid income taxes	15,432	16,378
Notes receivable, insurance companies (Note 18)	19,723	4,180
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	29,206	25,909
Total current assets	494,801	472,806
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 5)	144,445	148,678
Prepaid pension cost	54,016	62,916
Deferred tax assets (Note 10)	24,190	23,240
Goodwill (Note 13)	335,297	333,276
Intangible assets (Note 13)	75,763	77,015
Notes receivable, insurance companies, noncurrent (Note 18)	63,416	63,147
Insurance receivable (Note 18) and other noncurrent assets	66,226	172,842
Total assets	1,258,154	1,353,920
Current liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt, net (Note 12)	26,848	26,666
Accounts payable	65,682	62,734
Employees’ compensation	23,422	39,880
Insurance and product liability (Note 18)	18,939	19,438
Taxes on income (Note10)	1,202	3,889
Other current liabilities	65,922	68,803
Total current liabilities	202,015	221,410
Long-term debt, net (Note 12)	268,568	363,836
Pensions and other employee benefits	158,908	157,927
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 10)	34,867	34,044
Other noncurrent liabilities	15,518	15,491
Total liabilities	679,876	792,708
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
Equity
Preferred stock, 4 1/2% cumulative, $50 par value (Note 7)	3,569	3,569
Common stock, no par value (Note 7)	182,158	172,681
Treasury shares, at cost (Note 7)	(289,952)	(289,254)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(216,892)	(230,246)
Retained earnings	897,458	901,415
Total MSA Safety Incorporated shareholders' equity	576,341	558,165
Noncontrolling interests	1,937	3,047
Total shareholders’ equity	578,278	561,212
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,258,154	$ 1,353,920