EXHIBIT 21
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                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY

           The registrant's present affiliates include the following:

                                                                 State or Other
                                                                Jurisdiction of
      Name                                                       Incorporation
      ----                                                       -------------

Compania MSA de Argentina S.A.                                     Argentina
MSA (Aust.) Pty. Limited                                           Australia
MSA-Auer Sicherheitstechnik Vertriebs GmbH                         Austria
MSA Export Limited                                                 Barbados
MSA Belgium NV                                                     Belgium
MSA do Brasil Ltda.                                                Brazil
MSA Canada                                                         Canada
MSA de Chile Ltda.                                                 Chile
Wuxi-MSA Safety Equipment Co. Ltd.                                 China
Rose Manufacturing Company                                         Colorado
MSA International, Inc.                                            Delaware
MSA de France                                                      France
MSA Auer                                                           Germany
MSA-Auer Hungaria Safety Technology                                Hungary
MSA Italiana S.p.A.                                                Italy
MSA Japan Ltd.                                                     Japan
MSA de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.                                        Mexico
MSA Nederland, B.V.                                                Netherlands
MSA del Peru S.A.C.                                                Peru
MSA-Auer Polska Sp. z o.o.                                         Poland
MSA (Britain) Limited                                              Scotland
MSA S.E. Asia Pte. Ltd.                                            Singapore
MSA Africa (Pty.) Ltd.                                             South Africa
MSA Espanola S.A.                                                  Spain
AB Tegma                                                           Sweden
MSA (Switzerland) Ltd.                                             Switzerland
Aritron Instrument A.G.                                            Switzerland
MSA Zimbabwe (Pvt.) Limited                                        Zimbabwe

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      The above-mentioned affiliated companies are included in the consolidated
financial statements of the registrant filed as part of this annual report. The
names of certain other affiliates, which considered in the aggregate as a single
affiliate would not constitute a significant affiliate, have been omitted.