Contact:                                     At the Financial Relations Board:
--------                                     ---------------------------------
401-233-0333                                 212-661-8030
Sandra Souto                                 Analyst Information: John McNamara
Investor Relations                           Media Information:   David Closs
                                             General Information: Jeff Bogart


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
---------------------
April 18, 2000

                   BACOU REPORTS RECORD FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS
                         AND INCREASES EARNINGS OUTLOOK

              Q1 Earnings Per Share of $0.40 - Up 29.0% Over Q1 '99
                                    of $0.31

               Q1 Net Income - Up 29.1% to $7.1 Million from $5.5
                               Million for Q1 `99

       Net Sales of $74.2 Million - Up 36.0% Over Q1 '99 of $54.6 Million

          SMITHFIELD,  R.I.,  APRIL 18, 2000 -- Bacou USA, Inc.  (NYSE:  BAU), a
leading  manufacturer of personal  protection  equipment,  today reported record
sales, net income and earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2000.

          "This is our fourth record-breaking quarter in a row," said Phil Barr,
President and CEO of Bacou. "We have a balanced approach, combining acquisitions
and internal growth.  Since 1995, we have achieved a compound annual growth rate
of earnings  per share in excess of 11%. We expect 2000 to be even better if the
economy  continues at its current  level of strength,  with  full-year  earnings
growth anticipated in the 12% to 15% range, or $1.76 to $1.80 per share."

          Bacou's  net income for the first  quarter of 2000  increased  to $7.1
million from $5.5 million for the first  quarter of 1999--up  29.1%.  As for net
income per basic and diluted  share,  Bacou reported $0.40 for the first quarter
of 2000, up 29.0% from $0.31 for the first quarter of 1999.

          Net sales  for the  first  quarter  of 2000  increased  36.0% to $74.2
million,  compared with 1999 first-quarter net sales of $54.6 million. Net sales
for  Bacou's  safety  segment  were $49.7  million in the first  quarter of 2000
compared  to $46.0  million  in 1999,  an  increase  of 8.2%.  Net sales for the
optical frames and instruments segment were $8.7 million in the first quarter of
2000 - up from $8.6 million in 1999.  Sales for the  2000-quarter  also included
sales of $15.8 million resulting from Bacou's glove segment,  which was acquired
on April 1, 1999.

          "Our outstanding results in the first quarter were mainly attributable
to sales of our Howard  Leight(R)  brand hearing  protection  products,  Uvex(R)
brand  protective  eyewear and Perfect  Fit(TM)  brand  gloves,"  said Mr. Barr.
"International sales growth has continued its recovery for the third consecutive
quarter, with an increase of 25.5% over first quarter 1999."

          For the quarter  ended March 31,  2000,  the company  reported  EBITDA
totaling $18.4 million, up 29.2% from $14.2 million in 1999. The company defines
EBITDA as operating income before  depreciation,  amortization and non-recurring
items. For the quarter,  depreciation  and amortization  totaled $5.0 million in
2000 and $4.1 million in 1999.

          At March 31, 2000,  the company's  balance sheet included total assets
of $370.9 million,  working  capital of $48.0 million,  long-term debt of $115.3
million and stockholders' equity of $188.5 million.

          Bacou USA, Inc.  designs,  manufactures  and sells  leading  brands of
products  that  protect  the sight,  hearing,  respiratory  systems and hands of
workers,  as well as related  instrumentation  including vision  screeners,  gas
monitors  and  test  equipment  for  self-contained   breathing  apparatus.  The
company's products,  marketed under Uvex(R), Howard Leight(R),  Perfect Fit(TM),
Survivair(R), Pro-Tech(R), Biosystems(TM), Titmus(R), LaserVision(TM) and Lase-R
Shield(TM) brand names, are sold principally to industrial safety  distributors,
fire  fighting  equipment  distributors  and  optical  laboratories.   News  and
information   about  Bacou  USA  are   available   on  the   Worldwide   Web  at
http:/www.bacouusa.com, including the text of today's conference call.

 To receive additional information on Bacou USA, Inc., via fax, at no charge,
                     dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter code BAU.

                                       ###

Statements  contained in this press  release that are not  historical  facts are
forward-looking  statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities and Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition,  words
such  as  "believes,"  "anticipates,"  "expects"  and  similar  expressions  are
intended  to identify  forward-looking  statements.  Forward-looking  statements
involve  risks  and  uncertainties,  including  but not  limited  to the  timely
development and acceptance of new products,  the impact of competitive  products
and  pricing,   changing  market  conditions,   the  successful  integration  of
acquisitions, continued availability and favorable pricing of raw materials, and
the other risks detailed in the company's  prospectus  filed March 27, 1996, and
from time to time in other filings.  Actual results may differ  materially  from
those  projected.  These  forward-looking  statements  represent  the  company's
judgment as of the date of this release.  The company  disclaims,  however,  any
intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


                            (Financial tables follow)


<PAGE>



                             BACOU USA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           (in thousands, except per share data)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Three Months Ended
Statement of income data (unaudited):                                2000              1999
                                                                     ----              ----

<S>                                                                <C>               <C>
Net sales                                                          $74,220           $54,575
Cost of sales                                                       40,262            27,688
                                                                   -------           -------
Gross profit                                                        33,958            26,887

Operating expenses:
     Selling                                                        10,770             8,693
     General and administrative                                      5,926             4,784
     Research and development                                        1,439             1,209
     Amortization of intangible assets                               2,405             2,115
                                                                   -------           -------
Total operating expenses                                            20,540            16,801
                                                                   -------           -------

Operating income                                                    13,418            10,086
Total other expense                                                  2,347             1,550
                                                                   -------           -------

Income before income taxes                                          11,071             8,536
Income taxes                                                         4,006             3,062
                                                                   -------           -------


Net income                                                         $ 7,065           $ 5,474
                                                                   =======           =======

Basic earnings per share                                           $  0.40           $  0.31
                                                                   =======           =======
Diluted earnings per share                                         $  0.40           $  0.31
                                                                   =======           =======


Weighted average shares outstanding:

     Basic                                                          17,630            17,616
                                                                   =======           =======
     Diluted                                                        17,649            17,786
                                                                   =======           =======


Other information:

     Depreciation and amortization                                 $ 4,959           $ 4,133
                                                                   =======           =======
     EBITDA (defined by the company as operating income
     before depreciation, amortization and non-recurring items)    $18,377           $14,219
                                                                   =======           =======

</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                        BACOU USA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               March 31, 2000    December 31, 1999
                                                               --------------    -----------------

Balance Sheet Data (in thousands, except share data):
ASSETS

Current assets:
<S>                                                               <C>               <C>
   Cash and cash equivalents                                      $  4,945          $ 10,272
   Trade accounts receivable, net                                   46,680            41,653
   Inventories                                                      41,620            42,433
   Other current assets                                              4,151             1,634
   Deferred income taxes                                             3,100             3,733
                                                                  --------          --------
      Total current assets                                         100,496            99,725
   Property and equipment, net                                      75,529            74,410
   Intangible assets, net                                          192,060           194,258
   Other assets                                                      2,850             3,032
                                                                  --------          --------

      Total assets                                                $370,935          $371,425
                                                                  ========          ========


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
   Current installments of long-term debt                         $ 22,857          $ 23,637
   Accounts payable                                                 15,039            10,559
   Accrued expenses                                                 11,416            20,492
   Income taxes payable                                              3,210             1,027
                                                                  --------          --------
      Total current liabilities                                     52,522            55,715
Long-term debt                                                     115,321           120,256
Deferred income taxes                                               12,280            11,550
Other liabilities                                                    2,292             2,449
                                                                  --------          --------
      Total liabilities                                            182,415           189,970
                                                                  --------          --------

Stockholders' equity:
   Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares
     authorized, no shares issued and outstanding                       --                --
   Common stock, $.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares
     authorized, 17,629,865 shares issued and outstanding               18                18
   Additional paid-in capital                                       73,060            73,060
   Retained earnings                                               115,442           108,377
                                                                  --------          --------
   Total stockholders' equity                                      188,520           181,455
                                                                  --------          --------

   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                     $370,935          $371,425
                                                                  ========          ========

</TABLE>