Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 134,244	$ 113,759
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,540 and $5,610	244,198	209,514
Inventories (Note 3)	153,739	103,066
Prepaid income taxes	31,448	16,378
Notes receivable, insurance companies (Note 19)	17,333	4,180
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	41,335	25,909
Total current assets	622,297	472,806
Property, plant, and equipment, net (Note 4)	157,014	148,678
Prepaid pension cost (Note 14)	83,060	62,916
Deferred tax assets (Note 9)	25,825	23,240
Goodwill (Note 12)	422,185	333,276
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	183,088	77,015
Notes receivable, insurance companies, noncurrent (Note 19)	59,567	63,147
Insurance receivable (Note 19) and other noncurrent assets	131,790	172,842
Total assets	1,684,826	1,353,920
Current Liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt (Note 11)	26,680	26,666
Accounts payable	87,061	62,734
Employees’ compensation	39,377	39,880
Insurance and product liability (Note 19)	59,116	19,438
Income taxes payable (Note 9)	0	3,889
Warranty reserve (Note 19) and other current liabilities	77,045	68,803
Total current liabilities	289,279	221,410
Long-term debt, net (Note 11)	447,832	363,836
Pensions and other employee benefits (Note 14)	170,773	157,927
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 9)	9,341	34,044
Product liability (Note 19) and other noncurrent liabilities	165,023	15,491
Total liabilities	1,082,248	792,708
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; 38,222,928 and 37,736,578 shares outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)	194,953	172,681
Treasury shares, at cost (Note 6)	(297,834)	(289,254)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(171,762)	(230,246)
Retained earnings	868,675	901,415
Total MSA Safety Incorporated shareholders’ equity	597,601	558,165
Noncontrolling interests	4,977	3,047
Total shareholders’ equity	602,578	561,212
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,684,826	$ 1,353,920