EXHIBIT 23




                       Consent of Independent Accountants
                       ----------------------------------


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-22284), the Registration Statement on Form S-8
(No. 33-43696) and the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-51983) of
Mine Safety Appliances Company of our reported dated February 23, 2001 relating
to the financial statements, which appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders,
which is incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  We also consent to
the incorporation by reference of our report dated February 23, 2001 relating to
the Financial Statement Schedule, which appears in this Form 10-K.



PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 26, 2001