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
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, 1997, appearing on page 13 of the 1996 Annual Report
to Shareholders of Mine Safety Appliances Company, which is incorporated in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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.



PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

600 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA  15219
March 26, 1997