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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-022988.txt : 20030912
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-022988.hdr.sgml : 20030912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030912140937
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-022988
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030912

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000066570
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				250668780
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 GAMMA DR
		STREET 2:		OHARA TOWNSHIP
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15238
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4129673000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 426
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN JOHN T III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001001300

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15579
		FILM NUMBER:		03893547

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 426
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4129673000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 426
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd18359.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-10</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066570</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001001300</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN JOHN T III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>121 GAMMA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15238</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15918</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.9375</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>352156</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5918</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>56.315</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>346238</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFol
lowingTransaction><value>140523</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Wife (1)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>67023</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Wife as Trustee (2)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>158052</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></dir
ectOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>As Co-Trustee (3)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>792963</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>As Co-Trustee (4)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>152764</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Partnership (5)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><der
ivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.9375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15918</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.9375</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-09-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-03-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15918</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</va
lue></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><remarks>(1) I disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares.

(2)  Shares held in trusts of which I am not a trustee and in which members of my immediate family are beneficiaries.  I disclaim

       beneficial ownership of these shares.

(3)  Shares held in trusts of which I am a trustee and in which I and members of my immediate family are among the beneficiaries.

(4)  Shares held in a trust of which I am a trustee and in which a member of my immediate family is the beneficiary.  I disclaim

       beneficial ownership of these shares.

(5)  Shares held by a family limited partnership of which I am a general partner and the other partners include members of my

       immediate family.  I disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of my pecuniary interest.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Douglas K. McClaine, Attorney-in-Fact for John T. Ryan III</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>rrd10212_11620.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
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<TITLE>
rrd10212_11620.html
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POWER OF ATTORNEY

To Sign and File Reports under Section 16(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
under Rule 144 or any other Filings Required
Under the Federal Securities Laws
With Respect to Securities of Mine Safety Appliances Company


               KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Douglas K. McClaine or the General Counsel of Mine Safety Appliances Company ("MSA"), Dennis L. Zeitler or the Vice President-Finance of MSA and Nelson W. Winter, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, to sign any and all reports of the undersigned under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, under Rule 144 or any other filings required under the Federal Securities Laws with respect to securities of MSA, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all th
at said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with the Federal Securities Laws.

               This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect unless and until notice of its revocation shall have been filed by the undersigned with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Power of Attorney the date set forth below.

Date:  August 27, 2002


                                       SIGNATURE: /s/John T. Ryan III


                                        PRINT NAME:  John T. Ryan III


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