MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO
10-Q, 1999-11-10
ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES
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<PAGE>
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

                QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the quarter ended September 30, 1999             Commission File No. 0-2504


                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                  Pennsylvania                     25-0668780

      (State or other jurisdiction of   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
      incorporation or organization)



           121 Gamma Drive
           RIDC Industrial Park
           O'Hara Township
           Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania                         15238

     (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  412/967-3000


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.


            Yes   X                                         No


As of October 31, 1999, there were outstanding 4,871,907 shares of common stock
without par value, including 567,630 shares held by the Mine Safety Appliances
Company Stock Compensation Trust.











<PAGE>
                         PART I  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
                      CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
                   (Thousands of dollars, except share data)
                                    (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      September 30  December 31
                                                              1999         1998
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>
ASSETS
  Current assets
    Cash                                                $    7,269   $   10,084
    Temporary investments, at cost plus accrued interest    11,725       13,936
    Accounts receivable, less allowance (1999 - $2,812;
      1998 - $3,004)                                        93,388       94,850
    Inventories:
      Finished products                                     42,863       36,956
      Work in process                                       15,743       12,445
      Raw materials and supplies                            35,240       36,090
                                                          --------     --------
          Total inventories                                 93,846       85,491
                                                          --------     --------
    Other current assets                                    23,445       24,848
                                                          --------     --------
          Total current assets                             229,673      229,209
                                                          --------     --------

  Property, plant and equipment                            378,360      371,687
  Accumulated depreciation                                (213,486)    (207,126)
                                                          --------     --------
          Net property                                     164,874      164,561
                                                          --------     --------

  Prepaid pension cost                                      56,256       46,162
  Other assets                                              19,464       16,784
                                                          --------     --------
          TOTALS                                        $  470,267   $  456,716
                                                          ========     ========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S>
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>
  Current liabilities
    Notes and accounts payable                          $   78,870   $   68,416
    Federal, foreign, state and local income taxes           6,010          991
    Other current liabilities                               45,618       40,599
                                                          --------     --------
          Total current liabilities                        130,498      110,006
                                                          --------     --------

  Long-term debt                                            11,893       11,919
  Pensions and other employee benefits                      59,339       60,550
  Noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits               31,091       31,395

  Shareholders' equity
    Preferred stock, 4-1/2% cumulative - authorized
      100,000 shares of $50 par value; issued 71,373
      shares, callable at $52.50 per share                   3,569        3,569
    Second cumulative preferred voting stock - authorized
      1,000,000 shares of $10 par value;  none issued
    Common stock - authorized 20,000,000 shares of no par
      value; issued 6,779,231 and 6,779,231 (outstanding
      4,311,783 and 4,378,874)                              12,616       12,591
    Common stock compensation trust - 569,600 and 571,690  (26,771)     (26,869)
      shares
    Less treasury shares, at cost:
      Preferred -    49,397 and    49,313 shares            (1,598)      (1,595)
      Common    - 1,897,848 and 1,828,667 shares           (93,815)     (89,521)
    Deferred stock compensation                               (632)        (951)
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                   (14,980)     (10,240)
    Retained earnings                                      359,057      355,862
                                                          --------     --------
          Total shareholders' equity                       237,446      242,846
                                                          --------     --------
          TOTALS                                        $  470,267   $  456,716
                                                          ========     ========
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements


<PAGE>
                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
                   CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                (Thousands of dollars, except earnings per share)
                                    (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30          September 30

                                          1999       1998       1999       1998
<S>                                  <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Net sales                           $  118,004 $  116,060 $  357,646 $  364,918
Other income                               515        960      1,992      5,143
                                    ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
                                       118,519    117,020    359,638    370,061
                                    ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Costs and expenses
  Cost of products sold                 76,774     72,158    228,931    231,462
  Selling, general and administrative   32,453     32,731     97,816    101,210
  Depreciation and amortization          6,004      5,454     17,253     16,732
  Interest                                 891      1,006      2,655      2,416
  Currency exchange (gains)/losses        (215)       119       (569)       287
  Special pension credits               (5,925)               (1,317)    (3,993)
  Facilities consolidation &             1,465        349      2,327        642
     restructuring charges          ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
                                       111,447    111,817    347,096    348,756
                                    ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

Income before income taxes               7,072      5,203     12,542     21,305
Provision for income taxes               2,731      2,130      4,894      7,942
                                    ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net income                          $    4,341 $    3,073 $    7,648 $   13,363
                                    ========== ========== ========== ==========

Basic earnings per common share     $     1.01 $     0.69 $     1.76 $     3.00
                                    ========== ========== ========== ==========

Diluted earnings per common share   $     1.00 $     0.69 $     1.75 $     2.99
                                    ========== ========== ========== ==========

</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements

<PAGE>
                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
                 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                             (Thousands of dollars)
                                    (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Nine Months Ended
                                                                 September 30

                                                               1999        1998
<S>                                                        <C>         <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  Net income                                              $   7,648   $  13,363
  Depreciation and amortization                              17,253      16,732
  Deferred taxes,pensions, and other non-cash
     charges/(credits)                                      (11,062)     (9,873)
  Gain on divestitures                                                   (2,238)
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities                 4,729      (4,018)
  Other - principally currency exchange adjustments          (3,928)     (2,661)
                                                          ---------   ---------
  Cash flow from operating activities                        14,640      11,305
                                                          ---------   ---------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Property additions                                        (19,766)    (22,838)
  Property disposals, net                                       573         700
  Net proceeds from divestitures                                         22,865
  Other investing                                            (6,368)     (3,589)
                                                          ---------   ---------
  Cash flow from investing activities                       (25,561)     (2,862)
                                                          ---------   ---------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  Additions to long-term debt                                   362         110
  Reductions of long-term debt                                 (295)       (693)
  Changes in notes payable and short term debt               15,508       9,353
  Cash dividends                                             (4,453)     (4,446)
  Company stock purchases and sales, net                     (4,174)     (4,507)
                                                          ---------   ---------
  Cash flow from financing activities                         6,948        (183)
                                                          ---------   ---------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                      (1,053)     (2,494)
                                                          ---------   ---------
Net(decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents          (5,026)      5,766
Beginning cash and cash equivalents                          24,020      19,921
                                                          ---------   ---------
Ending cash and cash equivalents                          $  18,994   $  25,687
                                                          =========   =========
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements

<PAGE>
                              MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                      (Unaudited)

(1) The Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
    of Operations which follows these notes contains additional information on
    the results of operations and the financial position of the company. Those
    comments should be read in conjunction with these notes. The company's
    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 includes
    additional information about the company, its operations, and its financial
    position, and should be read in conjunction with this quarterly report on
    Form 10-Q.

(2) The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the
    results to be expected for the full year.

(3) Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the
    current year presentation.

(4) In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal
    recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of these interim
    periods have been included.

(5) A pre-tax gain of $5.9 million ($3.6 million after-tax) was recognized in
    the third quarter of 1999 related to lump sum settlements of pension
    benefits for participants in a voluntary retirement incentive program
    (VRIP) for non-production employees in the U.S. Year-to-date 1999 results
    reflect a net VRIP-related gain of $1.3 million ($800,000 after-tax) which
    includes the third quarter settlement gain, partially offset by second
    quarter termination benefit charges of $4.6 million ($2.8 million
    after-tax).

(6) Basic earnings per share is computed on the weighted average number of
    shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share includes
    the effect of the weighted average stock options outstanding during the
    period,using the treasury stock method. Antidilutive options are not
    considered in computing earnings per share.


    <TABLE>
    <CAPTION>
                              Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
                                 September 30       September 30
                                 1999      1998     1999      1998
                              ( In thousands)    ( In thousands)
    <S>                       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
    Net income              $   4,341 $   3,073 $  7,648 $  13,363
    Preferred stock dividends
      declared                               12       37        37
                                -----     -----    -----     -----
    Income available to common
      shareholders              4,341     3,061    7,611    13,326
                                -----     -----    -----     -----
    Basic shares outstanding    4,315     4,432    4,333     4,445
    Stock options                  14        21       11        17
                                -----     -----    -----     -----
    Diluted shares outstanding  4,329     4,453    4,344     4,462
                                -----     -----    -----     -----
    Antidilutive stock options      7                  7
                                -----     -----    -----     -----
    </TABLE>

(7) Comprehensive income was $4,390,000 and $2,908,000 for the three and nine
    months ended September 30, 1999, respectively, and $1,869,000 and
    $8,272,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 1998,
    respectively. Comprehensive income includes net income and changes in
    accumulated other comprehensive income, primarily cumulative translation
    adjustments, for the period.

(8) The company is organized into three geographic operating segments (U.S.,
    Europe, and Other non-U.S.), each of which includes a number of operating
    companies. There have not been any changes in the basis of segmentation
    and measurement of segment profit and loss.


    Reportable segment information is presented in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              (In Thousands)
                                                  Other    Recon-    Consol.
                                U.S.    Europe   non-U.S.  ciling    totals
                              Three Months Ended September 30, 1999
<S>                           <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>
Sales to external customers   $64,744   $28,131  $25,141      ($12) $118,004
Intercompany sales              9,459     4,227      287   (13,973)
Net income(loss)                4,649      (783)   1,113      (638)    4,341

                              Nine Months Ended September 30, 1999
Sales to external customers   206,186    84,109   67,747      (396)  357,646
Intercompany sales             25,094    13,360    1,130   (39,584)
Net income(loss)                6,924    (1,081)   2,425      (620)    7,648

                              Three Months Ended September 30, 1998
Sales to external customers    65,811    28,041   21,463       745   116,060
Intercompany sales              8,056     3,614      524   (12,194)
Net income(loss)                2,147       (26)     155       797     3,073

                              Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998
Sales to external customers   213,994    85,643   63,854     1,427   364,918
Intercompany sales             25,118    10,538    1,308   (36,964)
Net income(loss)               12,798      (812)   1,143       234    13,363

    Reconciling items consist primarily of intercompany eliminations and items
    reported at the corporate level.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Forward-looking statements
- --------------------------

This report contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding expectations
for future product introductions, cost reduction and restructuring plans,
liquidity, sales and earnings, Year 2000 readiness, and market risk. Actual
results may differ from expectations contained in such forward-looking
statements and can be affected by any number of factors, many of which are
outside of management's direct control. Among the factors that could cause
such differences are the effects of cost reduction efforts, new product
introductions, market and operating conditions affecting major specialty
chemical customers, availability of critical materials and components, Year
2000 readiness of critical third  parties, the economic environment, and
interest and currency exchange rates.

Results of operations
- ---------------------

Organizational initiatives
- --------------------------
During the third quarter of 1999 the company recorded a pre-tax gain of $5.9
million ($3.6 million after-tax, or 83 cents per basic share) relating to
lump-sum settlements of pension benefits for participants in a voluntary
retirement incentive program (VRIP) for non-production employees in the U.S.
Termination benefit charges of $4.6 million pre-tax ($2.8 million after-tax,
or 65 cents per basic share) were recognized in the second quarter of 1999.
The net effect of the VRIP on year-to-date 1999 results was a pre-tax gain of
$1.3 million ($800,000 after-tax, or 18 cents per basic share). The company
expects to recognize an additional VRIP-related pension settlement gain in the
fourth quarter of 1999. All VRIP participants had retired by July 31, 1999.
Staff reductions resulting from the VRIP are expected to lower pre-tax annual
operating costs by approximately $4.0 million.

The company is also actively pursuing opportunities to consolidate office
facilities in the Pittsburgh area as a means of reducing operating costs and
improving communications and productivity.

In Europe, a new management team is implementing organizational changes which
are expected to reduce operating costs and establish a more integrated
approach to business in that area. Workforce reductions made in Europe during
1999 are expected to lower pre-tax operating costs by approximately $2.0
million annually.

During the third quarter of 1999 the company incurred pre-tax restructuring
charges, primarily in Europe, of $1.5 million ($810,000 after-tax, or 19 cents
per basic share). Year-to-date results include pre-tax restructuring charges
in the U.S. and Europe totalling $2.3 million ($1.3 million after-tax, or 29
cents per basic share).

During the fourth quarter of 1999, the company expects to record additional
restructuring charges related to further workforce reductions in Europe.

Three months ended September 30, 1999 and 1998
- ----------------------------------------------

Sales for the third quarter of 1999 were $118.0 million, an increase of $1.9
million, or 2%, from $116.1 million in the third quarter of last year.

Third quarter 1999 sales for U.S. operations were even with the third quarter
of last year. Improvements in U.S. sales of safety products were largely
offset by lower instrument and specialty chemical sales. Shipments of
self-contained breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras to the fire
service market continued to be strong in the quarter. Activity was slow in
most other U.S. safety markets during the summer. MSA has seen some recovery
in September, which is expected to continue. MSA and its distributors in the
U.S and other areas were affected by the serious fall in oil prices that
affects this key customer group and related industries. Oil prices have
recovered in the past quarter and the company looks forward to more purchasing
activities and projects in these important areas. Delays in new product
introductions continued to depress instrument product sales for much of the
quarter. The company began shipping its improved Passport FiveStar Alarm
multigas detector late in the third quarter of 1999 and priority efforts are
being placed on other new instrument product introductions. Third quarter 1999
sales of specialty chemical were significantly lower than the same period last
year. Specialty chemical products are sold to a limited number of large
pharmaceutical and chemical companies. Sales levels for specialty chemicals
are largely dependent on the performance of these customers' products in their
respective markets. The decline in the third quarter was almost entirely due
to various special situations with individual customer's production and
marketing activity. The company believes that lower specialty chemical sales
in the third quarter of 1999 were the result of an accumulation of mostly
temporary factors and expects that sales will recover in the fourth quarter
and continue to grow next year. Overall, incoming commercial orders for safety
products in the U.S. exceeded shipments in the third quarter. U.S. Government
incoming orders for safety products have also been good, even without major
gas mask projects, and government backlog increased somewhat in the third
quarter.

European sales for third quarter 1999 were also even with the prior year third
quarter. Fire service sales in Germany continued to be strong. These gains
were largely offset by seasonal expectations, poor economic conditions in
Russia, and currency exchange effects when stated in U.S. dollars. Sales in the
company's other international operations were substantially higher than the
prior year, which was depressed by the well-publicized economic problems that
particularly affected the Asian and South American markets. Sales and
profitability of MSA Africa continued to be boosted by the second quarter 1999
acquisition of Campbell Gardwel, making the company the largest safety
products supplier on the African continent. Currency exchange effects on sales
of other international operations during the quarter were minor.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 1999 was $41.2 million, a decrease of
$2.7 million, or 6%, from $43.9 million in 1998. The ratio of gross profit to
sales was 34.9% in the third quarter of 1999 compared to 37.8% in the
corresponding quarter last year. The lower gross profit percentage reflects
changes in sales mix and a general narrowing of margins in Europe resulting
from the introduction of the Euro-currency.

Selling, general and administration costs in the third quarter of 1999 were
slightly lower than the prior year third quarter.

Higher depreciation and amortization expense in the quarter was primarily
related to mid-year production equipment and information technology additions
in Europe.

Income before income taxes was $7.1 million for third quarter 1999 compared to
$5.2 million last year. Third quarter 1999 results included the previously-
discussed $5.9 million credit related to the VRIP and restructuring charges of
$1.5 million. Third quarter 1998 results included restructuring charges of
$350,000. Third quarter income before taxes adjusted for the effects of these
special items in both years declined 53%. The decrease is primarily due to the
lower sales of specialty chemicals discussed above.

The effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 1999 was 38.6% compared
to 40.9% in 1998. The lower third quarter 1999 effective rate reflected the
proportionately higher income in the U.S. and tax benefits associated with
losses in Europe.

Net income in the third quarter of 1999 was $4.3 million, or $1.01 per basic
share, compared to $3.1 million, or 69 cents per basic share last year.
Excluding the after-tax effects of the special pension credits and
restructuring charges in both years, net income was down 51%.

Nine months ended September 30, 1999 and 1998
- ---------------------------------------------

Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 were $357.6 million, a
decrease of $7.3 million, or 2%, from $364.9 million last year. Sales in the
prior year included the HAZCO Services, Inc. and Baseline Industries, Inc.
business units until they were divested on June 30, 1998. Excluding these
units, year-to-date sales of ongoing businesses increased 2% compared to last
year.

Total sales of ongoing U.S. operations for the nine months ended September 30,
1999 were 3% higher than last year. The improvement continued to reflect
strength in self-contained breathing apparatus and thermal imaging camera
sales to the fire service market and safety products sales in government
markets. Instrument product sales year-to-year were relatively flat. Specialty
chemical sales for the nine months were somewhat lower than the prior year,
reflecting the previously-discussed decrease in the third quarter of 1999.

Year-to-date 1999 sales in Europe were flat compared to 1998. Currency
exchange effects on sales in Europe when stated in U.S. dollars were minimal
for the nine months. Sales of other international operations improved in most
markets, although these gains were partially offset by unfavorable exchange
rate movements when stated in U.S. dollars.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 was $128.7 million,
a decrease of $4.8 million, or 4%, from $133.5 million in 1998. The 1999
ratio of gross profit to sales was 36.0% compared to 36.6% last year.

The decrease in selling and administrative costs reflects the absence of the
HAZCO and Baseline operations in 1999, partially offset by higher operating
costs associated with the new enterprise-wide computer system. As discussed
previously, specific cost improvement efforts have been completed in 1999 and
additional initiatives are in progress.

Slightly higher depreciation and amortization expense in 1999 primarily
reflects higher depreciation associated with information systems which were
placed in service in mid-1998, largely offset by the divestitures of the HAZCO
and Baseline business units at the end of second quarter 1998.

Income before income taxes was $12.5 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 1999 compared to $21.3 million in 1998. The 1999 results included
the net VRIP gain of $1.3 million and restructuring charges of $2.3 million.
The 1998 results included the $3.0 million gain on the divestitures of the
HAZCO and Baseline business units, a $4.0 million pension settlement gain, and
$640,000 in restructuring charges. The 1998 pension gain resulted from
settling remaining pension liabilities to former employees from the Esmond,
Rhode Island plant which was closed in 1997. Year-to-date income before taxes
adjusted for the effects of these special items in both years declined 9%.

The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 was
39.0% compared with 37.3% last year. The lower 1998 rate reflects recognition
of tax benefits associated with the divestiture of the Baseline business unit.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 was $7.6 million,
$1.76 per basic share, compared to $13.4 million or $3.00 per basic share last
year. Excluding the after-tax effects of the special pension credits and
restructuring charges in both years and the gain on sales of business units in
1998, net income was down 10%.

Liquidity and Financial Condition
- ---------------------------------

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $5.0 million during the first nine months
of 1999 compared with an increase of $5.8 million last year, which included net
proceeds from divestitures of nearly $23.0 million.

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $14.6 million for the first nine
months of 1999 compared to $11.3 million last year. The improvement was
primarily related to favorable changes in operating assets and liabilities.

Investing activities used cash of $25.6 million in the nine months ended
September 30, 1999 compared with cash outflows of $2.9 million in 1998. Lower
cash used for investing activities in 1998 reflected the proceeds from the
divestitures of the HAZCO and Baseline business units.

Financing activities provided $6.9 million in the first nine months of 1999,
mainly from increased short-term borrowings, compared to a minor use of cash
in 1998.

Available credit facilities and internal cash resources are considered
adequate to provide for ensuing capital requirements.

Year 2000 Readiness
- -------------------

The company is continuing Year 2000 readiness action plans which focus on
computerized and automated systems and processes that are critical to
operations, key vendors and service providers, and MSA products.

State of readiness - In 1996, to provide the information infrastructure for
MSA's evolving global management strategy, the company began a project to
replace significant information technology (IT) systems world-wide with a
fully-integrated Enterprise Wide System (EWS) using SAP R/3. Because SAP R/3
is Year 2000 compliant, implementation of EWS at various MSA companies has
been timed to reduce the Year 2000 impact on IT systems. EWS is currently
operating at all MSA locations in the U.S. and at international affiliates in
Britain, Germany, Sweden, and Mexico. Operations which have implemented EWS
account for approximately 75% of sales and 90% of manufacturing activity. IT
systems at all international operations that are not on EWS are Year 2000
compliant except for two. Readiness efforts are ongoing at these two
companies, neither of which is material to the consolidated results, and are
expected to be completed before the end of 1999.

MSA continues to address Year 2000 compliance in a number of other areas,
including: non-IT systems and processes (such as physical plant and
manufacturing systems), key vendors and service providers, EDI systems, and
MSA products. The following chart provides estimated percentages of completion
for the inventory of systems and processes that may be affected by the Year
2000, the analysis performed to determine the Year 2000 impact on inventoried
systems and processes, and the Year 2000 readiness of the inventoried systems
and processes.

                                           Percent Completed
                                    ---------------------------------
                                       Y2K     Y2K Impact    Y2K
As of October 31, 1999              Inventory  Assessment Readiness
                                    ---------  ---------  ---------
Information technology                    100%       100%        98%
Non-information technology                 98%        95%        95%

Costs of Year 2000 remediation - Costs associated with Year 2000 remediation,
which exclude costs associated with the EWS project, are estimated to total
less than $5 million. These costs, which are funded from operating cash flow,
are expensed as incurred each year.

Risks and contingency plans - Failure to identify and correct significant Year
2000 issues could result in interruption of normal business operations. The
company believes that the efforts described above should reasonably identify
and address the impact of the Year 2000 issue and its effect on operations and
should reduce the possibility of significant interruptions. However, due to the
uncertainties inherent in the Year 2000 problem, including the readiness of
third party vendors and service providers and customers, the most likely worst
case Year 2000 scenario would be temporary disruption of business in certain
locations in the event of noncompliance by the company or third parties.
Disruptions could include temporary production stoppages and delays in
delivery of product.

Year 2000 contingency plans have been developed by each major operating
location and functional area. Contingency plans may include stockpiling raw
materials and finished goods inventories, developing emergency recovery
procedures, identifying alternate suppliers, replacing electronic applications
with manual processes, and other appropriate measures. Year 2000 contingency
planning is an ongoing process which will continue through the remainder of
this year as new information becomes available.

Financial Instrument Market Risk
- --------------------------------

There have been no material changes in the company's financial instrument
market risk during the third quarter of 1999. For additional information,
refer to page 14 of the company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year
ended December 31, 1998.

<PAGE>
                           PART II  OTHER INFORMATION
                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY



Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         Not Applicable

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

           (a)  Exhibits

                (10) (n) MSA Supplemental Savings Plan

           (b)  Reports on Form 8-K

                No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended
               September 30, 1999.



                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                                 MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY



Date: November 10, 1999                      By          S/James E. Herald
                                                  James E. Herald
                                                  Vice President - Finance;
                                                  Principal Financial and
                                                  Accounting Officer
























































<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
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THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SEPTEMBER
1999 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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<S>                             <C>
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                                0
                                      3,569
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<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.76
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</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                                            EXHIBIT 10 (n)
MSA SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

As Amended and Restated

Effective December 1, 1999

<PAGE>

MSA SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Article                                                     Page

                    Preamble

ARTICLE I           Definitions.............................  1

ARTICLE II          Participation...........................  9

ARTICLE III         The Supplemental Account...............  10

ARTICLE IV          Participant-Direction of Investment....  15

ARTICLE V           Vesting................................  19

ARTICLE VI          Distribution of Benefits...............  20

ARTICLE VII         General Provisions.....................  22

<PAGE>

MSA SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

Preamble

                Mine Safety Appliances Company (the "Company") has established
and maintains the MSA Retirement Savings Plan (the "Retirement Savings Plan"),
a retirement plan qualified under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Retirement Savings Plan
permits eligible employees to elect to defer a percentage of their
Compensation, but not more than 10% thereof, contributing the same to the
Retirement Savings Plan (subject to certain limitations). The Company presently
matches, on a 50% basis, each dollar contributed by a Participant, up to 8% of
Compensation.

                As a result of the limitations imposed upon the aggregate
amount of contributions which could be made to the Retirement Savings Plan by
Section 415 of the Code, the Company previously adopted a non-qualified,
unfunded Supplemental Savings Plan, an "excess benefit plan" as described in
Section 3(36) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), to
allow those Participants whose benefits under the Retirement Savings Plan would
otherwise be significantly restricted to continue to make elective pre-tax
deferrals and to provide the Company contribution relating to such deferrals.

<PAGE>

                However, as a result of further changes in the Code, additional
limitations were placed upon the amount of compensation which could be
considered for purposes of the Retirement Savings Plan, and the benefits of
certain highly compensated employees were further limited. As a result, the
Company amended and restated the Supplemental Savings Plan, effective January
1, 1997, in order to restore the benefits of certain executive employees which
would otherwise be lost as a result of such limitations. As so amended, the
Plan is designed to be an unfunded plan for the benefit of a select group of
management or highly compensated employees, but not an "excess benefit plan"
under ERISA.

                The Company has now decided to amend and restate the Plan in
order to permit a participant to determine the earnings on his Plan account by
choosing among a number of investment funds in which the amounts in his Plan
account will be deemed to be invested, to provide certain Change-in-Control
protection with respect to Plan benefits and to expressly state within the Plan
certain provisions which were previously incorporated by reference to the
Company's Retirement Savings Plan.

                                        ii

<PAGE>

ARTICLE  I

DEFINITIONS

                Unless otherwise specifically defined in this Article I or
where a term first appears in this Plan, all capitalized terms used in this
Plan shall have the same meanings as are ascribed to them under the Company's
Retirement Savings Plan.

      1.1 "ADMINISTRATOR" means the Retirement Savings Plan Committee, as
          appointed by the Board from time to time, unless the Board shall
          expressly appoint another Administrator. The Administrator shall
          also be the "named fiduciary" (within the meaning of section 402(a)
          (2) of ERISA) and may serve in more than one fiduciary capacity with
          respect to the Plan. The Administrator may, by written notice of
          appointment delivered to any other person or persons (whether legal
          or natural), designate and allocate any fiduciary responsibility
          (other than that of named fiduciary) to such other person or persons,
          who may also serve in more than one fiduciary capacity with respect
          to the Plan.

      1.2 "AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE DATE" means the effective date of the 1999
          amendment and restatement of the Plan.

      1.3 "BENEFICIARY" means the person or persons designated by a Participant
          (in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator) to
          receive the value of his Supplemental Account in the event of his
          death prior to receipt of all benefits due hereunder, or, if no such
          person is designated by a Participant, Beneficiary means the person
          or persons designated by the Participant

<PAGE>

          under the provisions of the Retirement Savings Plan to receive the
          value of his account thereunder in the event of his death prior to
          receipt of all benefits due thereunder.

      1.4 "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of Mine Safety Appliances
          Company, or any successor thereto.

      1.5 "CHANGE IN CONTROL" of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred
          if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall
          have occurred:

(I)  any Person (as defined in this Section 1.5) is or becomes the Beneficial
Owner (as defined in this Section 1.5), directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such
Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates
(which term shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as defined in this Section 1.5)) representing
thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a
Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (I) of
paragraph (III) below; or
                                        2

<PAGE>

(II) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on May 5, 1998,
constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial
assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election
contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the
election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the
Board or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved or
recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still
in office who either were directors on May 5, 1998 or whose appointment,
election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended;
or

(III)  there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any
direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other corporation, other
than (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities
of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in
combination with the ownership of any trustee or other
                                        3

<PAGE>

fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or
any subsidiary of the Company, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the combined
voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any
parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or
(ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the
Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the
Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities; or

(IV) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale
or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, at least fifty-one
percent (51%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which
are owned by shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions
as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.
                                        4

<PAGE>

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have
occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of
integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the
common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of
transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in
an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

"BENEFICIAL OWNER" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act.

"EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.

"PERSON" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act,
as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such
term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company,
or (v) any individual or entity [including the trustees (in such capacity) of
any such entity which is a trust] which is, directly or
                                        5

<PAGE>

indirectly, the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Company representing five
percent (5%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities immediately before the Amendment Effective Date or any
Affiliate of any such individual or entity, including, for purposes of this
Plan, any of the following: (A) any trust (including the trustees thereof in
such capacity) established by or for the benefit of any such individual; (B)
any charitable foundation (whether a trust or a corporation, including the
trustees or directors thereof in such capacity) established by any such
individual; (C) any spouse of any such individual; (D) the ancestors (and
spouses) and lineal descendants (and spouses) of such individual and such
spouse; (E) the brothers and sisters (whether by the whole or half blood or by
adoption) of either such individual or such spouse; or (F) the lineal
descendants (and their spouses) of such brothers and sisters.


      1.6 "CLAIMANT" has the meaning given it in Section 7.2 hereof.

      1.7 "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
          to time.

      1.8 "CODE LIMITATIONS" means the limitations of either Section 401(a)(17)
          or Section 415(c)(2) of the Code, restricting the contributions of a
          Participant or the Company under the provisions of the Retirement
          Savings Plan, but not Section 402(g) of the Code, limiting the
          dollar amount of a Participant's tax-deferred contributions.
                                        6

<PAGE>

      1.9 "COMPANY" means Mine Safety Appliances Company, a Pennsylvania
          corporation, and, except in determining under Section 1.5 hereof
          whether or not any Change in Control of the Company has occurred,
          any successor thereto. For purposes of this Plan (except in
          determining under Section 1.5 hereof whether or not any Change in
          Control of the Company has occurred), any subsidiary or affiliate of
          Mine Safety Appliances Company whose employees participate in the
          Retirement Savings Plan shall be included within the definition of
          "Company."

     1.10 "COMPENSATION" means the compensation of a Participant as defined in
          the Retirement Savings Plan for purposes of calculating Employee
          Contributions, but without regard to the limit on such compensation
          otherwise required by Code Section 401(a)(17).

     1.11 "DEFERRAL ELECTION" means a "salary reduction agreement" between an
          Eligible Employee and the Company, as described in Sections 3.1 and
          3.2 hereof.

     1.12 "ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE" means an Employee who participates in the
          Retirement Savings Plan and whose Employee Contributions, and/or any
          Company Matching Contributions with respect thereto, are restricted
          by the application of a Code Limitation.

     1.13 "INVESTMENT FUNDS" means the separate investment vehicles designated
          by the Administrator in which the amounts in a Participant's
                                        7

<PAGE>

          Supplemental Account can be deemed invested at the election of the
          Participant in accordance with Article IV hereof.

     1.14 "PARTICIPANT" means an individual who, as an Eligible Employee,
          participated in the Plan prior to the Amendment Effective Date
          and/or files a Deferral Election with respect to Compensation in
          accordance with Section 3.1 or 3.2 hereof. An individual who becomes
          a Participant continues to be a Participant until the entire amount
          of his benefit hereunder has been distributed.

     1.15 "PLAN" means this MSA Supplemental Savings Plan as in effect from
          time to time.

     1.16 "RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN" means the MSA Retirement Savings Plan as in
          effect from time to time.

     1.17 "SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNT" means the unfunded bookkeeping account
          established and maintained in accordance with Article III hereof to
          record the contributions deemed to be made by the Participant and
          the Company, as well as the earnings, gains and losses thereon,
          expenses allocable thereto, distributions therefrom and other
          reductions in value thereof. The Supplemental Account shall be
          comprised of two bookkeeping sub-accounts, the Supplemental Employee
          Contributions Account and the Supplemental Company Matching
          Contributions Account, as described in Article III hereof.

     1.18 "VALUATION DATE" means every business day.
                                        8

<PAGE>

ARTICLE  II

PARTICIPATION

      2.1 An Eligible Employee who is a Participant in this Plan immediately
          prior to the Amendment Effective Date shall continue to be a
          Participant as of the Amendment Effective Date. Any other Eligible
          Employee who files a Deferral Election in accordance with Section 3.1
          or 3.2 hereof shall become a Participant in this Plan as of the date
          provided in such Deferral Election (unless already a Participant
          herein).
                                        9

<PAGE>

ARTICLE  III

THE SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNT

      3.1 Deferral Election and Supplemental Employee Contributions. An
          Eligible Employee may elect to execute a "salary reduction
          agreement" with the Company (a "Deferral Election") to reduce his
          Compensation during a stated deferral period by a specified
          percentage not exceeding eight percent (8%) (hereafter in this
          Article III, the "Elected Percentage"), such reduction to be offset
          by Employee Contributions made on behalf of the Eligible Employee to
          the Retirement Savings Plan with respect to such deferral period, and
          to credit such net reduction as Supplemental Employee Contributions
          to the Supplemental Employee Contributions Account portion of the
          Supplemental Account of the Eligible Employee (who thus becomes a
          Participant hereunder). The Deferral Election must be filed with the
          Administrator before the beginning of the relevant deferral period.
          The timely-filed Deferral Election shall become effective on the
          first day of the deferral period set forth in such Deferral
          Election, which deferral period (except as provided in Section 3.2
          hereof) shall be a complete calendar year. Such Deferral Election
          shall be effective to defer Compensation relating to the
          Participant's services performed in such calendar year. A Deferral
          Election with respect to Compensation during a calendar year cannot
          be altered or revoked during that calendar year and shall also remain
          in effect with respect to services in each succeeding calendar year
          (if the
                                        10

<PAGE>

          individual is an Eligible Employee on December 31st of the relevant
          calendar year to which the Deferral Election shall have already been
          applied), until and unless a new Deferral Election (which may
          include, without limitation, an agreement that no deferrals shall be
          made in such succeeding calendar year) becomes effective. Such a new
          Deferral Election will be effective as of the first day of the next
          following calendar year after its filing with the Administrator and
          will apply only to Compensation payable with respect to services
          rendered on and after such first day of the following year. Amounts
          credited to the Participant's Supplemental Employee Contributions
          Account prior to the effective date of any new Deferral Election will
          not be affected.

      3.2 Some Mid-Year Elections Permitted. In the first calendar year in
          which an Employee becomes an Eligible Employee (or (i) in the
          calendar year in which a former Employee who has returned to the
          Company's employ becomes an Eligible Employee (whether or not he was
          an Eligible Employee during a previous period of employment) or (ii)
          in the calendar year in which a former Eligible Employee who
          continued as an Employee (but ceased to be an Eligible Employee and
          no longer has a Deferral Election in effect) again becomes an
          Eligible Employee), he may make and file a Deferral Election within
          thirty days after he becomes an Eligible Employee as to Compensation
          for services performed during such calendar year subsequent to
          filing the Deferral Election. Further, in 1998, the
                                        11

<PAGE>

          deferral arrangements in effect immediately prior to the Amendment
          Effective Date of individuals who are Participants immediately prior
          to the Amendment Effective Date shall continue in effect through
          December 31, 1998.

      3.3 Supplemental Company Matching Contributions. The Employer shall
          credit as Supplemental Company Matching Contributions to the
          Supplemental Company Matching Contributions Account portion of the
          Supplemental Account of each Participant who has Supplemental
          Employee Contributions credited to his Supplemental Account with
          respect to any calendar year Supplemental Company Matching
          Contributions with respect to such calendar year equal to fifty
          percent (50%) of the result of subtracting the aggregate amount of
          Company Matching Contributions credited to the Participant's account
          under the Retirement Savings Plan with respect to such calendar year
          from the lesser of the Elected Percentage of Compensation or eight
          percent (8%) of Compensation.

      3.4 Earnings and Expenses for a Supplemental Account. All Supplemental
          Employee Contributions and Supplemental Company Matching
          Contributions credited to a Participant's Supplemental Account shall
          be treated as though invested and reinvested only in Investment
          Funds selected (or deemed selected) by such Participant pursuant to
          Article IV hereof. A pro-rata portion of all dividends, interest
          gains and distributions of any nature earned in a given period in
          respect of an Investment Fund in which the Supplemental Account is
          treated as
                                        12

<PAGE>

          investing shall be credited to the Supplemental Account, such credit
          to be calculated by multiplying all such dividends, interest gains
          and distributions by a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to
          the portion of the Supplemental Account of each Participant that is
          deemed invested in the particular Investment Fund and the denominator
          of which is equal to the aggregate of all amounts invested in the
          same Investment Fund. All investment income deemed received from an
          Investment Fund shall be deemed reinvested in the same Investment
          Fund. Expenses attributable to the acquisition of investments shall
          be charged to the Supplemental Account (and respective sub-accounts
          thereof) of the Participant for which such investment is deemed made.

      3.5 Recordkeeping. The dollar amounts of any such Employee Contributions
          and Company Matching Contributions for a Participant for each
          payroll period shall be credited promptly upon the completion of
          such payroll period to the appropriate sub-account of the
          Participant's Supplemental Account (an unfunded bookkeeping account).
          The sum of the balance of a Participant's Supplemental Employee
          Contributions Account and the vested balance of a Participant's
          Supplemental Company Matching Contribution Account, as such sum
          varies from time to time, shall be recorded on the financial books
          and records of the Company as a liability owed to the Participant.
          The Administrator or its delegate shall maintain such bookkeeping
          accounts as it deems necessary to administer this Plan and shall
                                        13

<PAGE>

          calculate, or direct the calculation of, amounts in the Participants'
          Supplemental Accounts. The Administrator's determination of the
          value of Participants' Supplemental Accounts shall be final and
          binding upon all Participants and on the Company. Participants will
          be furnished statements of their Supplemental Account values at least
          quarter-annually.
                                        14

<PAGE>

ARTICLE  IV

PARTICIPANT-DIRECTION OF INVESTMENT

      4.1 Participant-Directed Investment. Subject to Section 4.5 hereof, a
          Participant may make elections as to the deemed investment of his
          Supplemental Account in accordance with such procedures as are
          established and uniformly applied by the Administrator or its
          delegate. The Administrator or its delegate shall provide each
          Participant with a description of the Investment Funds available for
          selection from time to time and such other relevant information about
          the Investment Funds as it receives from time to time. The
          Participant's investment election shall remain in force until revised
          by means of a subsequent investment election becoming effective
          pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof. During any period in which the
          Participant does not have an investment election in force, the
          Participant shall be deemed to have elected an investment in the
          Retirement Government Money Market Portfolio (or any substantially
          similar approved Investment Fund which has been substituted
          therefor) until another investment election subsequently becomes
          effective pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof.

      4.2 Changes in Investment Direction and Transfers. Subject to Section
          4.5 hereof, on any business day a Participant may elect to change
          his deemed investment election as to subsequent contributions or to
          transfer amounts among one or more of the Investment Funds then
          available by following notice procedures
                                        15

<PAGE>

          established and uniformly applied by the Administrator or its
          delegate. The Participant's notice of change or transfer shall be
          effective as soon as reasonably practicable (as determined by the
          Administrator in its sole discretion) after the Administrator or its
          delegate has received such notice.


      4.3 Responsibility for Investment Elections. The selection of investment
          choices among the Investment Funds available from time to time shall
          be the sole responsibility of each Participant. The deemed
          investment return (or loss) with respect to a Participant's
          Supplemental Account shall be determined solely by the Participant's
          investment elections made in accordance with this Supplemental Plan
          and the procedures established and uniformly applied by the
          Administrator or its delegate. The availability of an Investment
          Fund to a Participant shall not be construed as a recommendation for
          investment therein. Further, neither the Company, any Participating
          Affiliate, the Administrator or its delegate, any Employee nor the
          trustee of any trust which may be established by the Company in
          accordance with Section 7.3 hereof is authorized to make any
          recommendation to any Participant with respect to the selection of
          investments among the Investment Funds.

      4.4 Participant's Risk. Each Participant assumes all risk connected with
          any decrease in the market value of any of his Supplemental
          Account's deemed investments. The value of the Participant's
          Supplemental Account and the payment of
                                        16

<PAGE>

          any amount which may be or become due therefrom are not guaranteed
          by any one or any entity.

      4.5 Investment Restrictions, Temporary Suspensions of Plan Activities
          and Investment Fund Transfers by Administrator. The provisions of
          this Section 4.5 shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of
          any other Section of this Plan to the contrary. In accordance with
          its established and uniformly applied procedures, the Administrator
          or its delegate may place certain restrictions or limitations on the
          dollar amounts, percentages or types of investment elections,
          transfers and/or allocations which are deemed made under the Plan.
          If the Administrator changes the Plan's recordkeeper, the
          Administrator may temporarily suspend certain Plan activities
          (including without limitation, distributions, contribution
          percentage changes and investment allocations) in order to facilitate
          the recordkeeping change. If an Investment Fund is eliminated by
          the Administrator or its delegate, then the Administrator or its
          delegate may direct that amounts deemed invested in the Investment
          Fund which was eliminated shall be automatically transferred to
          another Investment Fund with similar investment goals. After any
          such transfer by the Administrator or its delegate, further
          investment changes may be made by the Participant in accordance with
          Section 4.2 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of
          this Section 4.5, no power given the Administrator or its delegate
          in this Section 4.5 can be used after a Change in Control to reduce
          or
                                        17

<PAGE>

          adversely affect in any way any benefit payable to, or accrued by, a
          Participant (or his Beneficiary) hereunder.
                                        18

<PAGE>

ARTICLE  V

VESTING

      5.1 Vesting in Supplemental Employee Contributions Account. A
          Participant's interest in his Supplemental Employee Contributions
          Account shall be 100% vested at all times.

      5.2 Vesting in Supplemental Company Contributions Account. A
          Participant's interest in his Supplemental Company Matching
          Contributions Account shall become 100% vested upon the earliest of
          the following to occur:

          (i)  Participant's completion of five (5) years of Continuous
               Service;
          (ii) Death of the Participant while employed by the Company;
          (iii)Attainment of the Participant's 65th birthday while employed
               by the Company; or
          (iv) Occurrence of a Change in Control while the Participant is
               employed by the Company.

      5.3 Forfeitures. If a Participant terminates his employment, any portion
          of his Supplemental Account (including any amounts credited after
          his termination of employment) which is not payable to him under
          Article VI hereof shall be forfeited by him upon such termination.
                                        19

<PAGE>

ARTICLE  VI

DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS

      6.1 Time of Distribution. The vested amount held in a Participant's
          Supplemental Account hereunder shall become payable to him as of the
          date of his termination of employment unless the Participant has,
          not later than December 31st of the calendar year prior to the
          otherwise applicable payment date, filed an election in writing with
          the Administrator to defer the commencement of benefits to a later
          date. Under no circumstance, however, may the commencement of
          benefits be delayed beyond the first day of April of the year
          following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age
          70-1/2.

      6.2 Form of Distribution. If the value of the Participant's vested
          Supplemental Account is less than $25,000, cash payment shall be made
          in a single lump sum. If the value of the Participant's vested
          Supplemental Account is $25,000 or more, cash payment will be made
          in five (5) approximately equal annual installments, each installment
          calculated by dividing the then-current value of the Participant's
          vested Supplemental Account by the number of remaining installment
          payments. Alternatively, a Participant may elect, not later than
          during the calendar year preceding the calendar year which includes
          the otherwise applicable payment date, to receive the entire vested
          balance of his Supplemental Account in a single cash payment.
          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.2, if the
                                        20

<PAGE>

          employment of a Participant shall be terminated within the three-
          year period immediately following a Change in Control (other than by
          the Participant's death), the entire balance of his Supplemental
          Account shall be paid to him in a single cash payment, not later
          than the fifth (5th) business day following such termination.

      6.3 Distribution on Death. In the event of a Participant's death
          hereunder, the then current value of his Supplemental Account shall
          be paid to his Beneficiary in a lump sum cash payment.

      6.4 Valuation of Supplemental Account. A Participant's Account shall be
          valued for distribution purposes as of the date of distribution.
                                        21

<PAGE>

ARTICLE  VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

      7.1 Administration: The responsibility to administer this Plan and to
          interpret and carry out its provisions is hereby delegated to the
          Administrator. The Administrator is hereby authorized to delegate
          any part or all of its duties to such other administrators as it may
          appoint. The Administrator (or its delegate) shall have the same
          rights, powers, duties and fiduciary obligations, and operate with
          the same standard of care, with respect to this Plan and its
          Participants as the Retirement Savings Plan Committee has and does
          with respect to the Retirement Savings Plan and its participants.

      7.2 Benefit Review Procedure. The Administrator shall initially make all
          determinations of eligibility for and the amount of benefits payable
          to a Participant or his Beneficiary (hereafter referred to as the
          "Claimant"). If the Administrator makes a decision which is adverse
          to the interests of any Claimant, the Administrator shall furnish
          notice of the adverse decision to the Claimant specifying the reason
          therefor. The Claimant shall have the right to request a
          redetermination of such decision by the Administrator within sixty
          (60) days of receipt of the written notice of claim denial. The
          Employee Benefit Plan Committee appointed by the Board shall promptly
          review the request for redetermination, and within sixty (60) days
          submit its final decision to the Claimant in writing.
                                        22

<PAGE>

      7.3 No Right to Assets. Any Participant (or Participant's beneficiary)
          who may have or claim any interest in or right to any compensation,
          payment or benefit payable hereunder shall rely solely upon the
          unsecured promise of the Company as set forth herein for the payment
          thereof and shall have the status of a general unsecured creditor of
          the Company. The Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Company to
          make certain benefit payments in the future. The right of any
          Participant or beneficiary to benefits hereunder is strictly
          contractual. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
          Article VII, Mine Safety Appliances Company may, in its discretion,
          establish a trust to pay amounts becoming payable by the Company
          pursuant to this Plan, which trust shall be subject to the claims of
          the general creditors of Mine Safety Appliances Company in the event
          of its bankruptcy or insolvency. Notwithstanding any establishment
          of such a trust, the Company shall remain responsible for the
          payment of any amounts so payable which are not so paid by such
          trust. If any such trust is established, the trustee will not be
          required to invest trust assets in accordance with the directions of
          Participants given in accordance with this Plan, although the
          trustee, in its discretion, may so invest the trust assets.
          Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan, all "investment powers"
          given to any Participant over his Supplemental Account are actually
          powers to direct a deemed investment of such Supplemental Account,
          thus determining the investment return on the contributions deemed
          made to such Supplemental Account and the amount of the
                                        23
<PAGE>

          benefit the Company must pay the Participant with respect to such
          Supplemental Account. It is intended that this Plan shall be unfunded
          for Federal income tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA.
          It is intended that any trust established in accordance with this
          Section 7.3 shall be treated as a grantor trust under the Code and
          that the establishment of such a trust shall not cause Participants
          to realize current income on amounts contributed thereto.

      7.4 No Contract of Employment. This Plan shall not be construed to
          establish a guarantee of future or continued employment by the
          Company of any Participant.

      7.5 Non-Alienation. Benefits payable under this Plan shall not be
          subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer,
          assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment, whether
          voluntary or involuntary, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate,
          sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, attach or garnish the same
          shall be void; nor shall any such distribution or payment be in any
          way liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities,
          engagements or torts of any person entitled to such distribution or
          payment. If any Participant or Beneficiary is adjudicated bankrupt
          or purports to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge,
          encumber, attach or garnish any such distribution or payment
          voluntarily or involuntarily, the Administrator, in its discretion,
          may hold or cause to be held or
                                        24

<PAGE>

          applied such distribution or payment or any part thereof to or for
          the benefit of such Participant or Beneficiary in such manner as the
          Administrator shall direct.

      7.6 Payments to Minors or Incompetents. If the Administrator determines
          that any person entitled to payments under the Plan is an infant or
          incompetent by reason of physical or mental disability, it may cause
          all payments thereafter becoming due to such person to be made to any
          other person for his benefit, without responsibility to follow the
          application of amounts so paid. Payments made pursuant to this
          provision shall completely discharge the Company, the Plan, and the
          Administrator.

      7.7 Construction: Choice of Laws. The provisions of the Plan shall be
          construed, administered and governed under the laws of the
          Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the extent such laws are not
          preempted by ERISA or any other federal laws which may from time to
          time be applicable. Whenever any words are used herein in the
          masculine gender, they shall be construed as though they were also
          used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply,
          and whenever any words are used herein in the singular form, they
          shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form
          in all cases where they would so apply. Titles of Articles and
          Sections hereof are for convenience of reference only and are not to
          be taken into account in construing the provisions of this Plan.
                                        25

<PAGE>

      7.8 Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision of the Plan shall be held
          illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity
          shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, but the Plan shall
          be construed and enforced as if said illegal and invalid provision
          had never been inserted herein.

      7.9 Amendment and Termination. The Company expects to continue the Plan
          indefinitely, but specifically reserves the right, in the sole and
          unfettered discretion of its Board, at any time, to amend, in whole
          or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan and to terminate
          the Plan in whole or in part, provided, however, that no such
          amendment or termination shall (i) reduce or adversely affect the
          benefits payable under the Plan to a Participant (or his
          Beneficiary) if the Participant's termination of employment with the
          Company has occurred prior to such termination or amendment of the
          Plan, or (ii) reduce or adversely affect the benefit to be paid with
          respect to the Participant on the date of such termination or
          amendment, as compared with the benefit that would have been payable
          with respect to the Participant if his employment had terminated on
          the day before the Plan was so terminated or amended. Upon a
          termination of the Plan, no further Supplemental Employee
          Contributions or Supplemental Company Matching Contributions shall be
          made under the Plan, but the Supplemental Accounts maintained under
          the Plan at the time of such Plan Termination shall continue to be
          governed by the terms of the Plan until paid out in accordance with
          such terms.
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