EXHIBIT 21
                                                                      ----------

                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
                         ------------------------------

           The registrant's present affiliates include the following:



 
                                        State or Other
                                        Jurisdiction of
      Name                              Incorporation
      ----                              ---------------
                                     
 
MSA (Aust.) Pty. Limited                Australia
 
MSA Export Limited                      Barbados
 
MSA do Brasil Ltda.                     Brazil
 
MSA Canada                              Canada
 
MSA de Chile Ltda.                      Chile
 
Baseline Industries, Inc.               Colorado
 
MSA International, Inc.                 Delaware
 
MSA de France                           France
 
Auergesellschaft GmbH                   Germany
 
MSA/Auer 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
 
HAZCO Services, Inc.                    Ohio
 
MSA del Peru S.A.                       Peru
 
MSA (Britain) Limited                   Scotland
 
MSA S.E. Asia Pte. Ltd.                 Singapore
 
MSA Espanola S.A.                       Spain
 
AB Tegma                                Sweden
 
MSA (Switzerland) Ltd.                  Switzerland
 
Safety Supply Specialists, Inc.         Wisconsin
 
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.