<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>poarcanizares.txt
<TEXT>
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:  January 20, 2003


                                       SIGNATURE: /s/Roberto Canizares M.


                                        PRINT NAME:  Roberto Canizares M.


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
