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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

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                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT made as of this _____ day of May, 1998, by and between
Thomas W. Klein ("Executive"), currently residing at 4590 Blackhawk Road, Eagan,
Minnesota 55122, and Bacou USA Safety, Inc., a corporation organized under the
laws of Delaware (the "Company"), with its principal offices at 10 Thurber
Boulevard, Smithfield, RI 02917.

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Company wishes to secure the services of Executive as President of
the Uvex Safety division of the Company (the "Division") for the period provided
in this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, Executive is willing to enter into this Agreement for such period
and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained,
Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

     1. EMPLOYMENT. During the period of employment set forth in Section 2 of
this Agreement, Company shall employ Executive, and Executive shall serve as
President of the Division. Executive shall promptly relocate his permanent
residence to the Smithfield, Rhode Island area. Executive agrees to faithfully
perform the duties assigned to him to the best of his ability and, except for
vacations and periods of temporary illness, to devote his full time and
attention to the business of Company. Ancillary employment such as writing,
teaching or lecturing, as well as the acceptance of honorific titles may be
undertaken by the Executive only with the approval of the Chief Executive
Officer of Bacou USA, Inc. or his designee ("Chairman"). Executive also agrees
that he will not engage in any other business activities without the prior
approval of the Chairman. Executive may only serve as an officer, director,
trustee or committee member, or in any similar position, of a reasonable number
(maximum two) of trade associations and religious, charitable, educational,
civic or other non-business organizations, subject to the approval of the
Chairman. The Executive represents and warrants to Company that he is now under
no contract or agreement nor will he execute any contract or agreement that will
in any manner interfere, conflict with or prevent him from performing his duties
under the terms and conditions of this Agreement, recognizing that his
performance hereunder will require the devotion of his full time and attention
during and beyond regular business hours during the Term (as hereinafter
defined), including extensive travel.


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     2. PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT. The Executive's employment under this Agreement
shall initially cover the period beginning July 1, 1998 to December 31, 1999
(the "Initial Term"). On January 1, 2000, and at the end of each year
thereafter, the period of employment shall be automatically extended, without
further action by either party, for successive one year periods (each a "Renewal
Term") unless at least six months prior to the end of any Term either party
shall have served written notice on the other of its election to allow this
Agreement to terminate at the end of such Term. The Initial Term and any Renewal
Terms are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the "Term."

          If either party notifies the other party that it shall not extend the
period of employment, Company may, at its option, decide that the Executive
shall take a leave-of-absence for part or all of the remaining time of his
employment, continuing to receive all compensation as if actively working.

     3. TERMINATION. The period of employment shall be terminated upon the first
to occur of the following:

     (i)  The expiration of the period of employment pursuant to Section 2 of
          this agreement.

     (ii) The Executive's death.

    (iii) The Executive becoming permanently disabled. Permanent disability
          shall mean physical or mental incapacity of a nature which prevents
          Executive from performing his duties under this Agreement for a period
          of more than six months in any twelve month period.

     (iv) The Executive's employment being terminated by Company for cause.
          Termination for cause shall mean termination by action of the Board of
          Directors of Company because of the willful failure of Executive to
          perform his duties and obligations under this Agreement (including but
          not limited to his obligation to promptly relocate his permanent
          residence to the Smithfield, Rhode Island area) or failure to execute
          in a reasonable and responsible manner the policies of the Company or
          gross negligence in the performance of his duties under this Agreement
          or the commission by Executive of a felony.

     4. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.

          (a) The Executive shall receive regular compensation (the "Base
Salary") at the initial rate of One Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars
($190,000.00) per annum during the Initial Term. The Base Salary shall be
payable in arrears less the usual payroll 


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deductions at the same times and in the same manner as salaries paid to other
employees of the Company. The Executive shall participate in any wage increases
applicable generally to salaried employees of Company. The Base Salary
prevailing at any time shall be reviewed annually for a possible increase
beginning in January 1999.

          (b) In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive shall be entitled to
receive annual incentive compensation payments ("Incentive Compensation") at
such times and in such amounts as may be determined pursuant to the Bonus Plan
for Executives of subsidiaries of Bacou USA, Inc., as in effect for the
applicable year (the "Company Plan"; a copy of the Company Plan for 1998 and
1999 is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B), provided, however, that for
1998 the Executive shall be entitled to Incentive Compensation equal to the
greater of the following two amounts:

               (i)  The amount determined pursuant to the Company Plan; or

              (ii)  $30,000.

Executive acknowledges that, by agreeing to participate in the Company Plan he
thereby waives any rights to participate in any other incentive compensation
plan of the Company.

          (c) Incentive Compensation shall be paid by Company for the prior
fiscal year within ten (10) days after a decision is made by the Board of
Directors of Company as to the amount of such Incentive Compensation, but in any
event no later than the earlier of the annual meeting of the Board of Directors
of Company or March 31.

          (d) The Executive shall be entitled to participate in any stock option
plan which Bacou USA, Inc. may adopt for Company at levels to be determined by
the Board of Directors of Company in their sole discretion. In connection with
the execution of this Agreement and subject to the execution of an Option
Agreement in the standard form utilized by Bacou, Executive shall be granted
options to purchase fifteen thousand (15,000) shares of common stock of Bacou
USA, Inc. at a per share price equal to the closing price on the Nasdaq national
market system on June 30, 1998, subject to vesting 20% on December 31, 1998 and
20% each on the first through fourth anniversaries of the date of this
Agreement.

          (e) The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all savings,
thrift, retirement or pension, short term and long term disability, health and
accident, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Major Medical or other hospitalization,
holiday, vacation, and other fringe benefit programs generally available to
senior executives of Company in accordance with and subject to the terms and
conditions of such programs.

          (f) In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the
following 


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benefits:

               (i)  The Executive shall have the use of a company car, subject
                    to the Automobile Policy of Bacou USA, Inc.

               (ii) The Executive shall be entitled to vacation pursuant to the
                    Bacou USA, Inc. Executive Vacation Policy. Vacation days
                    will be taken at a time convenient for both the Executive
                    and Company. To the extent the Executive does not take all
                    vacation days the remaining days will be carried forward for
                    an unlimited period or be paid to the Executive at the level
                    of his Base Salary valid for the fiscal year in which
                    vacation days are not taken.

              (iii) When traveling on Company business, the Executive will be
                    provided coach-class airfare on domestic trips; business
                    class airfare will be provided on international trips.

               (iv) The Executive is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in
                    connection with and for the promotion of the business of
                    Company, including expenses for meals and lodging (regular
                    hotel room, no suites), entertainment, and similar items as
                    required from time to time by the Executive's duties.
                    Company shall reimburse the Executive for all such expenses
                    upon the presentation of an account therefor, together with
                    appropriate supporting documentation.

               (v)  The Executive will receive relocation assistance in
                    accordance with the terms and conditions of the Relocation
                    Assistance Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

     5. LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY. Pursuant to the Bylaws of Company, the
Executive and the Chairman of the Board of Directors or his designee shall
constitute the Executive Committee of the Board. Except as otherwise provided
herein, approval by the Chairman or the Executive Vice President of Bacou must
be obtained prior to the Executive taking any of the following actions on behalf
of the Company:

          (a)  Acquisition or disposition of real property or any rights
               deriving therefrom, or changing title in any such real property.

          (b)  Making unplanned capital expenditures or any commitment therefore
               in an amount greater than $10,000 for any individual expenditure
               and $50,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year;

          (c)  Borrowing or guaranteeing any borrowings from or on behalf of any
               party, or altering the terms of any loan agreements for such


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               borrowings except for any such loans or borrowings as shall be
               agreed upon by the Board of Directors of Company;

          (d)  Hiring, terminating, promoting or demoting executive personnel
               with annual salary in excess of $50,000;

          (e)  Granting retirement benefits or other non-earned income to any
               individual which is not available to all employees;

          (f)  Modification of any qualified plan or other benefit plan, e.g.,
               health insurance;

          (g)  Acquiring the assets or shares of another Company or partnership;

          (h)  Acquiring or disposing of the assets or shares of the Company or
               selling any fixed asset of the Company below book value;

          (i)  Entering into or terminating agreements of any kind or nature
               with a monthly financial obligation in excess of U.S. $5,000 for
               more than six (6) months except purchase orders for materials
               required for the manufacture of products for sale in the ordinary
               course of business;

          (j)  Making basic changes in the administration, organization,
               production, and distribution of Company or any of its affiliates,
               as well as closing or curtailing the functions of Company or any
               of its affiliates;

          (k)  Filing any lawsuit;

          (l)  Making cash or non-cash corporate contributions above the
               annually budgeted amount;

          (m)  When there is a large volume of sales, the making of decisions
               requiring both extraordinary risks and extraordinary
               expenditures;

          (n)  Entering into any transaction on behalf of Company or its
               affiliates which is not in the usual course of its business;

          (o)  Adoption or modification of the annual budget.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, approval is not required for any action
provided for in the approved and applicable annual budget or annual plan of
Company. In addition, should the Chairman or Executive Vice President be
unavailable, if an emergency arises 


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which requires the Executive to take immediate action in which approval as set
forth in this Section would otherwise be required, the Executive is no longer
bound by the limitations described above and is authorized to make a decision in
the best interests of Company. The Executive will immediately inform the
Chairman and the Executive Vice President of Bacou USA, Inc. of any such
decisions made by him.

     6. NON-DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. It is understood that the business of
Company and its affiliates is of a confidential nature. During the period of the
Executive's employment with Company, the Executive may have received and/or may
secure confidential information concerning Company or any of Company's
affiliates or subsidiaries which, if known to competitors thereof, would damage
Company or its said affiliates or subsidiaries. The Executive agrees that during
and after the term of this Agreement he will not (except as authorized by
Company or in the proper performance of his duties or except as ordered by a
court or other body of competent jurisdiction or as otherwise required by law),
directly or indirectly, divulge, disclose or appropriate to his own use, or to
the use of any third party, any secret, proprietary or confidential information
or knowledge obtained by him during the term hereof concerning such confidential
matters of Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, including, but not limited
to, information pertaining to trade secrets, systems, manuals, confidential
reports, methods, processes, designs, equipment lists, operating procedures,
equipment and methods used and preferred by Company's customers. Upon
termination of this Agreement, the Executive shall promptly deliver to Company
all materials of a secret or confidential nature relating to the business of
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates which are, directly or
indirectly, in the possession or under the control of the Executive. The
provisions of this paragraph shall continue to apply after the Executive ceases
to be employed by Company for a period of three (3) years except in respect of
any information or knowledge disclosed to the public, other than through an
unauthorized disclosure by the Executive.

     7. TRADE SECRETS. The Executive covenants that he shall, while employed by
Company, assign, transfer, and set over to Company or its designee all right,
title and interest in and to all trade secrets, secret processes, inventions,
improvements, patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications,
copyrights, copyright registrations, discoveries and/or other developments
(hereinafter "Inventions") which he may, thereafter, alone or in conjunction
with others, during or outside normal working hours, conceive, make, acquire or
suggest at any time which relate to the products, processes, work, research, or
other activities of Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Any and
all Inventions which are of a proprietary nature and which the Executive may
conceive, may acquire or suggest, either alone or in conjunction with others,
during his employment with Company (whether during or outside normal working
hours) relating to or in any way pertaining to or connected with Company's
business, shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company or its designee
and the Executive, 


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whenever requested to do so by Company, shall, without further compensation or
consideration properly execute any and all applications, assignments or other
documents which Company or its designee shall deem necessary in order to apply
for and obtain Letters Patent of the United States and/or comparable rights
afforded by foreign countries for the Inventions, or in order to assign and
convey to Company or its designee the sole and exclusive right, title and
interest in and to the Inventions. This obligation shall continue beyond the
termination of this Agreement with respect to Inventions conceived or made by
the Executive during the term of his employment by Company, and shall be binding
upon his assigns, executors, administrators, and other legal representatives.

     8. NON-COMPETITION. (a) During the term of this Agreement or any renewal
thereof and, at Company's option for a period of up to one year thereafter,
should the Executive's contract be terminated or not be renewed, the Executive
agrees that he will not within the geographical area of the United States,
engage, either directly or indirectly, individually or as an owner, partner,
joint venturer, employee, officer, director, stockholder, consultant,
independent contractor or lender of or to any corporation, holding Company or
other business entity which is in a business similar to that of Company or any
of its affiliates. In the event that Company chooses to exercise its option to
prevent the Executive from competing with Company following termination or
non-renewal of his employment, Company shall notify the Executive in writing
within two (2) weeks following his last day of employment or within two (2)
weeks of notice by Company of its decision that the Executive shall take a
leave-of-absence, in either case specifying the period of up to one year
following termination, resignation, or non-renewal of employment during which
such competitive activity shall be prohibited. In the event Company exercises
its option, Company shall continue to pay Executive his Base Salary at the time
of termination, resignation or non-renewal for the period during which the
Executive is prohibited from competition with Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Executive (as hereinbefore described in Section 2(d)) may own
five (5%) percent of the securities of any business in competition with the
business of Company or any of its affiliates, which securities are regularly
traded on a public exchange, provided that any such ownership shall not result
in the Executive becoming a record or beneficial owner at any time of more than
five (5%) percent of equity securities of said business entity.

          (b) The Executive shall not during the term of his Employment under
this Agreement or any renewal thereof, and for a period of three (3) years
thereafter, employ, retain or arrange to have any other person or entity employ
or retain any person who was employed by Company or any of its affiliated
companies having an annual compensation of at least U.S. $50,000 per annum
during the term of this Agreement or any renewal thereof.

          (c) If any provision of this Section is held to be unenforceable
because of the scope, duration or area of its applicability or otherwise, the
legal entity making that 


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determination will have the power to modify the scope, duration or area, or all
of them, and the provision will then apply in its modified form.

     9. PROPERTY. All letters, memoranda, documents, business notes (including
all copies thereof) and other information contained on any other computer media
including computer disks and hard drives of the Executive in any manner relating
to the duties of Executive under this agreement are the property of Company.

     10. NOTICES. Any notices or other communications required to be given
pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given: (i)
upon delivery, if by hand; (ii) three (3) business days after mailing, if sent
by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested;
(iii) one (1) business day after mailing, if sent via overnight courier; or (iv)
upon transmission, if sent by telex or facsimile except that if such notice or
other communication is received by telex or facsimile after 5:00 p.m. on a
business day at the place of receipt, it shall be effective as of the following
business day. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be given as
follows:

                      (a)      If to the Company, to it at:

                               Bacou USA, Inc.
                               10 Thurber Boulevard
                               Smithfield, RI 02917
                               Attention:  President

                               Telephone No.:  401-233-0333
                               Telecopier No.: 401-232-2230

                     with a copy to:

                               Edwards & Angell
                               2700 Hospital Trust Tower
                               Providence, Rhode Island  02903
                               Attention:  Susan A. Keller, Esq.
                               Telephone No.:   (401) 274-9200
                               Telecopier No.:  (401) 276-6611

                     (b)       If to the Executive, to him at:

                               4590 Blackhawk Road
                               Eagan, MN 55122


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                     with a copy to:


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                               Telephone No.:   (               )
                               Telecopier No.:  (               )

Any party may change its address for receiving notice by written notice given to
the other names above in the manner provided above.

     11. FULL AND COMPLETE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT. This Agreement (together with
the Exhibits attached hereto) constitutes the full and complete understanding
and agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior understandings and
agreements. This Agreement may be modified only by a written instrument executed
by both parties (except Exhibit B which is subject to modification from time to
time by Bacou USA, Inc.)

     12. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the
State of Rhode Island.

     13. ARBITRATION. Notwithstanding the fact that the parties shall be
entitled to equitable relief in order to enforce certain provisions hereunder
(e.g., temporary restraining orders or injunctive relief), any dispute,
controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach
hereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the "Commercial
Arbitration Rules" of the American Arbitration Association in effect on the date
of this Agreement, except as varied below. The site of any such arbitration
shall be Providence, Rhode Island and any award shall be deemed to be a
Providence, Rhode Island award. There shall be a single arbitrator who shall be
admitted to practice law in Rhode Island, with no less than ten (10) years
experience in the handling of commercial or corporate matters or disputes. The
arbitrator shall render a written decision stating his reasons therefor, and
shall render an award within six (6) months of the request for arbitration, and
such award shall be final and binding upon both parties. Judgment upon the award
rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction
in any state of the United States or country or application may be made to such
court for a judicial acceptance of the award and an enforcement, as the law of
such jurisdiction may require or allow. The substantive law to be applied to any
case determined pursuant to this Section 13 is that of Rhode Island. The expense
of arbitration shall be borne by the respective parties except to the extent
that the arbitrators shall determine that the entire expense shall be borne by a
single party.

     14. BINDING NATURE. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to
the 



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benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, personal representatives,
successors and assigns.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Company and the Executive have duly executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

BACOU USA SAFETY, INC.

By: /s/ Walter Stepan                  By:  /s/ Philip B. Barr
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      Walter Stepan, Chairman              Philip B. Barr, Vice Chairman

EXECUTIVE:


 /s/ Thomas W. Klein
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        Thomas W. Klein