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Segment Information - Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services (Details) (Sales)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Fixed Gas and Flame Detection
    
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]    
Concentration risk percentage 23.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_FixGasFlameDetectionInstrumentsMember		 22.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_FixGasFlameDetectionInstrumentsMember
Breathing Apparatus
    
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]    
Concentration risk percentage 22.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_BreathingApparatusMember		 18.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_BreathingApparatusMember
Portable Gas Detection
    
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]    
Concentration risk percentage 15.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_PortableInstrumentsMember		 16.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_PortableInstrumentsMember
Head Protection
    
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]    
Concentration risk percentage 12.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_HeadProtectionMember		 13.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_HeadProtectionMember
Fire and Rescue Helmets
    
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]    
Concentration risk percentage 5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_FireandRescueHelmetsMember		 5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_FireandRescueHelmetsMember
Fall Protection
    
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]    
Concentration risk percentage 4.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_FallProtectionMember		 4.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_FallProtectionMember
Other
    
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]    
Concentration risk percentage 19.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_OtherProductsMember		 22.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= msa_OtherProductsMember