Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 174,078	$ 160,672
Trade receivables, less allowance for credit loss of $4,537 and $5,344	226,575	252,283
Inventories (Note 2)	232,658	197,819
Investments, short-term (Note 16)	49,982	74,982
Prepaid income taxes	33,595	26,185
Notes receivable, insurance companies (Note 17)	3,855	3,796
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	49,239	38,541
Total current assets	769,982	754,278
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 4)	201,163	189,620
Operating lease assets, net	67,383	53,451
Prepaid pension cost (Note 14)	105,078	97,545
Deferred tax assets (Note 9)	37,007	35,665
Goodwill (Note 12)	447,267	443,272
Intangible assets, net (Note 12)	161,402	161,051
Notes receivable, insurance companies, noncurrent (Note 17)	49,133	48,540
Net investment in sales-type leases, noncurrent (Note 13)	29,383	0
Insurance receivable (Note 17) and other noncurrent assets	95,435	89,062
Total assets	1,963,233	1,872,484
Liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt (Note 11)	20,000	20,000
Accounts payable	89,086	86,854
Employees’ compensation	37,533	40,277
Insurance and product liability (Note 17)	43,857	43,706
Income taxes payable (Note 9)	19,871	3,580
Other current liabilities	107,494	116,128
Total current liabilities	317,841	310,545
Long-term debt, net (Note 11)	314,587	287,157
Pensions and other employee benefits	201,311	208,068
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	58,877	44,639
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 9)	13,017	10,916
Product liability (Note 17) and other noncurrent liabilities	208,832	201,268
Total liabilities	1,114,465	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)	253,773	242,693
Treasury shares, at cost (Note 6)	(331,039)	(327,756)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 5)	(179,145)	(182,397)
Retained earnings	1,093,261	1,065,789
Total MSA Safety Incorporated shareholders' equity	840,419	801,898
Noncontrolling interests	8,349	7,993
Total shareholders’ equity	848,768	809,891
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,963,233	$ 1,872,484