XML 116 R102.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) LegalMatter | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) LegalMatter Vendor | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) LegalMatter | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) LegalMatter | Dec. 31, 2015 LegalMatter
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for product liability claims |  | $ 181,100,000 | $ 187,300,000 | $ 181,100,000 |  |
Years of activity |  |  | 5 years |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Damages Paid, Value |  | 25,200,000 | $ 28,600,000 |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease) |  |  |  | 111,100,000 |  |
Loss contingency, settlement, payment period |  |  | 1 year 9 months |  |  |
Number of insurance carriers | Vendor |  |  | 20 |  |  |
Insurance receivables |  | 134,700,000 | $ 71,700,000 | 134,700,000 | $ 159,900,000 |
Notes receivable from insurance companies |  | 76,900,000 | 59,600,000 | 76,900,000 | 67,300,000 |
Reported in Notes receivable |  | 17,333,000 | 3,555,000 | 17,333,000 |  |
Notes receivable, insurance companies, noncurrent (Note 19) |  | 59,567,000 | 56,012,000 | 59,567,000 |  |
Product Warranty Expense |  |  | 9,400,000 | 13,800,000 | 14,000,000 |
Single Incident |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for product liability claims |  | $ 5,400,000 | 3,600,000 | 5,400,000 |  |
Product liability losses |  |  | $ 2,000,000 | $ 2,400,000 | $ 800,000 |
Lawsuits |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lawsuits | LegalMatter |  | 1,420 | 1,481 | 1,420 | 1,794 | 1,988
Insurance Claims |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lawsuits | LegalMatter |  | 2,242 | 2,355 | 2,242 | 3,023 | 3,779
Cumulative Trauma, Reported Claims |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Product liability losses |  |  | $ 63,800,000 | $ 219,000,000 | $ 30,500,000 |
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded to Other Party |  |  | 75,200,000 |  |  |
Claims Settled, But Not Yet Paid |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for product liability claims |  | $ 54,500,000 | 24,500,000 | 54,500,000 |  |
Uninsured Cumulative Trauma |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Product liability losses |  |  | 43,800,000 | 124,500,000 | $ 300,000 |
Other Current Liabilities | Cumulative Trauma, Reported Claims |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for product liability claims |  | 48,600,000 | 38,800,000 | 48,600,000 |  |
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Cumulative Trauma, Reported Claims |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for product liability claims |  | 132,500,000 | 148,500,000 | 132,500,000 |  |
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance Receivables, current |  | 11,600,000 | 14,800,000 | 11,600,000 |  |
Other Noncurrent Assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance receivable, noncurrent |  | $ 123,100,000 | $ 56,900,000 | $ 123,100,000 |  |
Subsequent Event | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments | $ 7,100,000 |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual, Number of Periodic Payments | 3 |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Loss Contingency Accrual, Number of Periodic Payments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | msa_LossContingencyAccrualNumberofPeriodicPayments
Namespace Prefix: | msa_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Years of Activity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | msa_LossContingencyYearsofActivity
Namespace Prefix: | msa_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss contingency, settlement, payment period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | msa_Losscontingencysettlementpaymentperiod
Namespace Prefix: | msa_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Minimum number of insurance carriers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | msa_MinimumNumberOfInsuranceCarriers
Namespace Prefix: | msa_
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Insurance Companies + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | msa_NotesLoansandFinancingReceivableNetInsuranceCompanies
Namespace Prefix: | msa_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Insurance Companies, Current + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | msa_NotesLoansandFinancingReceivableNetInsuranceCompaniesCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | msa_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Insurance Companies, Noncurrent + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | msa_NotesLoansandFinancingReceivableNetInsuranceCompaniesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | msa_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -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
Name: | us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivableCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Carrying amount due after one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) of 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. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivableNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of cash outflow reducing loss contingency liability. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualPayments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Undiscounted amount of the accrual for damages arising from third-party use of the entity's product or process. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -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 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProductLiabilityGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of damages paid to the plaintiff in the legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesPaidValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of loss reported during the period pertaining to product liability. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductLiabilityAccrualPeriodExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The expense charged against earnings for the period pertaining to standard and extended warranties on the entity's goods and services granted to customers. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph ((c)(3,4)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductWarrantyExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=msa_SingleIncidentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=msa_LawsuitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_InsuranceClaimsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=msa_CumulativeTraumaReportedClaimsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=msa_ClaimsSettledButNotYetPaidMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=msa_UninsuredCumulativeTraumaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |