Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 184,728	$ 160,672
Trade receivables, less allowance for credit loss of $4,732 and $5,344	224,954	252,283
Inventories (Note 2)	220,021	197,819
Investments, short-term (Note 16)	54,976	74,982
Prepaid income taxes	30,396	26,185
Notes receivable, insurance companies (Note 17)	3,825	3,796
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	45,678	38,541
Total current assets	764,578	754,278
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 4)	197,832	189,620
Operating lease assets, net	68,199	53,451
Prepaid pension cost (Note 14)	101,317	97,545
Deferred tax assets (Note 9)	34,301	35,665
Goodwill (Note 12)	447,059	443,272
Intangible assets, net (Note 12)	164,234	161,051
Notes receivable, insurance companies, noncurrent (Note 17)	48,837	48,540
Net investment in sales-type leases, noncurrent (Note 13)	28,509	0
Insurance receivable (Note 17) and other noncurrent assets	87,896	89,062
Total assets	1,942,762	1,872,484
Liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt (Note 11)	20,000	20,000
Accounts payable	90,706	86,854
Employees’ compensation	33,373	40,277
Insurance and product liability (Note 17)	40,056	43,706
Income taxes payable (Note 9)	15,490	3,580
Other current liabilities	107,102	116,128
Total current liabilities	306,727	310,545
Long-term debt, net (Note 11)	340,428	287,157
Pensions and other employee benefits	201,040	208,068
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	59,211	44,639
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 9)	12,065	10,916
Product liability (Note 17) and other noncurrent liabilities	200,401	201,268
Total liabilities	1,119,872	1,062,593
Equity
Preferred stock, 4.5% cumulative, $50 par value (Note 6)	3,569	3,569
Common stock, no par value (Note 6)	245,887	242,693
Treasury shares, at cost (Note 6)	(331,215)	(327,756)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 5)	(188,948)	(182,397)
Retained earnings	1,085,383	1,065,789
Total MSA Safety Incorporated shareholders' equity	814,676	801,898
Noncontrolling interests	8,214	7,993
Total shareholders’ equity	822,890	809,891
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,942,762	$ 1,872,484