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Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 Vendor LegalMatter | Dec. 31, 2013 LegalMatter | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jan. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2011 LegalMatter
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of lawsuits | 2,326 us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber | 2,840 us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber | 2,609 us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber |  | 2,321 us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Years of Activity | 5 years |  |  |  |
Number of insurance carriers | 20 msa_MinimumNumberOfInsuranceCarriers |  |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in insurance settlements receivable |  | $ 95.7 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceSettlementsReceivable |  |  |
Insurance receivables | 220.5 us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivable | 124.8 us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivable | 130.0 us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivable |  | 112.1 us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivable
Insurance receivable, current | 2.0 us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivableCurrent |  |  |  |
Insurance receivable, noncurrent | 218.5 us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivableNoncurrent | 124.8 us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivableNoncurrent |  |  |
Single Incident |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for product liability claims | 3.5 msa_LossContingencyProductLiabilityClaimReserve / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_SingleIncidentMember | 4.0 msa_LossContingencyProductLiabilityClaimReserve / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_SingleIncidentMember |  |  |
Cumulative Trauma |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency accrual, product liability, net | 74.9 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProductLiabilityNet / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_CumulativeTraumaMember | 5.6 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProductLiabilityNet / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_CumulativeTraumaMember |  |  |
Product Liability Expense | 169.6 us-gaap_ProductLiabilityAccrualPeriodExpense / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_CumulativeTraumaMember | 169.6 us-gaap_ProductLiabilityAccrualPeriodExpense / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_CumulativeTraumaMember | 169.6 us-gaap_ProductLiabilityAccrualPeriodExpense / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_CumulativeTraumaMember |  |
Uninsured Cumulative Trauma |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Expense | 3.9 us-gaap_ProductLiabilityAccrualPeriodExpense / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_UninsuredCumulativeTraumaMember | 1.7 us-gaap_ProductLiabilityAccrualPeriodExpense / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_UninsuredCumulativeTraumaMember | 2.1 us-gaap_ProductLiabilityAccrualPeriodExpense / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_UninsuredCumulativeTraumaMember |  |
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Cumulative Trauma |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency accrual, product liability, net | 35.1 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProductLiabilityNet / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_CumulativeTraumaMember |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Cumulative Trauma |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement amount |  |  |  | $ 71.8 us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = msa_CumulativeTraumaMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember |

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- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in insurance settlements receivable, which are amounts due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy. The expectation is that such reimbursement will be received within one year of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy. For classified balance sheets, represents the current amount receivable, that is amounts expected to be collected within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Present value of the estimated aggregate accrual for damages arising from third-party use of the entity's product(s) or process(es) as of the balance sheet date (if the accrual qualifies for discounting). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section Y -Paragraph Question 1 + Details
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