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) of the 1987 Management Share Incentive Plan
(the 1987 Plan) and the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-43696) of the
1990 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan of Mine Safety Appliances Company
of our report dated February 17, 1995, appearing on page 13 of the 1994 Annual
Report to Shareholders of Mine Safety Appliances Company, which is incorporated
by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The 1987 Plan also relates to
the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 2-72044) of the 1980 Management
Share Incentive Plan of Mine Safety Appliances Company. We also consent to the
incorporation by reference of our report on the Financial Statement Schedule,
which appears on page F-1 of this Form 10-K. We also consent to the reference to
us under the heading "Experts" in such Statements.

Price Waterhouse LLP

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 24, 1995