

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): November 3, 1998
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                                 BACOU USA, INC.
                                 ---------------

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                                    --------

                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


         0-28040                                        05-0470688
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Commission file number)                    (IRS Employer Identification Number)


                   10 Thurber Boulevard, Smithfield, RI 02917
                -------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 401-233-0333




<PAGE>


Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS

(a)      On November 3, 1998,  Bacou USA,  Inc. (the  "Company")  issued a Press
         Release  announcing an article that appeared in Forbes Magazine ranking
         the Company among the 200 best small companies in America.

(b)      Exhibits

         Item 601
         Exhibit                            Exhibit Title
         -----------                        ---------------

         Exhibit 99                         Press Release



<PAGE>

         SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                          BACOU USA, INC.
                                          Registrant



                                          By: /s/Philip B. Barr
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                 Philip B. Barr
                                                 Executive Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  November 4, 1998




