Document:

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                                                                 EXHIBIT (10)(e)

                         MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY

                 1990 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN

                      (As amended effective April 1, 2001)

      The purposes of the 1990 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") are to promote the long-term success of Mine Safety Appliances Company
(the "Company") by creating a long-term mutuality of interests between the
non-employee Directors and shareholders of the Company, to provide an additional
inducement for such Directors to remain with the Company and to provide a means
through which the Company may attract able persons to serve as Directors of the
Company.

                                    SECTION 1
                                 Administration

      The Plan shall be administered by a Committee (the "Committee") appointed
by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") and consisting of not
less than two members of the Board. The Committee shall keep records of action
taken at its meetings. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum at
any meeting, and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at
which a quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by a majority of the
Committee, shall be the acts of the Committee.

      The Committee shall interpret the Plan and prescribe such rules,
regulations and procedures in connection with the operations of the Plan as it
shall deem to be necessary and advisable for the administration of the Plan
consistent with the purposes of the Plan. All questions of interpretation and
application of the Plan, or as to stock options or restricted stock awards
granted under the Plan, shall be subject to the determination of the Committee,
which shall be final and binding.

      Notwithstanding the above, the selection of the Directors to whom stock
options and restricted stock awards are to be granted, the timing of such
grants, the number of shares subject to any stock option or restricted stock
award, the exercise price of any stock option, the periods during which any
stock option may be exercised or a restricted stock award shall be subject to
restriction and the term of any stock option shall be as hereinafter provided,
and the Committee shall have no discretion as to such matters.

                                    SECTION 2
                         Shares Available under the Plan

      The aggregate number of shares which may be issued and as to which grants
of stock options and restricted stock awards may be made under the Plan is
150,000 shares of the Common Stock, without par value, of the Company (the
"Common Stock"), subject to adjustment and substitution as set forth in Section
6. If any stock option granted under the Plan is cancelled by mutual consent or
terminates or expires for any reason without having been exercised in full, the
number of shares subject thereto shall again be available for purposes of the
Plan. If shares of Common Stock are forfeited to the Corporation pursuant to the
restrictions
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applicable to restricted stock, the shares so forfeited shall again be available
for purposes of the Plan. The shares which may be issued under the Plan may be
either authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares or partly each, as
shall be determined from time to time by the Board.

                                    SECTION 3
                   Grant of Stock Options and Restricted Stock

      On the third business day following the day of each annual meeting of the
shareholders of the Company (the "Grant Date"), each person who is then a member
of the Board and who is not then an employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (a "non-employee Director") shall automatically and without further
action by the Board or the Committee be granted:

            (1) a "nonstatutory stock option" (i.e., a stock option which does
      not qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
      "Code")) to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock determined by
      dividing 75% of the amount of the annual Director's retainer then in
      effect by the Grant Date per share value of the option as determined by
      the Company under the Black-Scholes option pricing model; and

            (2) a number of restricted shares of Common Stock ("restricted
      stock") determined by dividing 25% of the amount of the annual Director's
      retainer then in effect by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
      Stock on the Grant Date.

The numbers of shares determined under the above formulas shall be rounded to
the nearest whole share. If on any Grant Date the number of shares remaining
available under the Plan is not sufficient for each non-employee Director to be
granted the full number of options and shares of restricted stock provided in
this Section, then the available shares shall be allocated among the options and
shares of restricted stock to be granted to each non-employee Director in
proportion to the amounts determined under the above formulas, disregarding any
fractions of a share.

                                    SECTION 4
                      Terms and Conditions of Stock Options

      Stock options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions:

            (A) The purchase price at which each stock option may be exercised
      (the "option price") shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair
      Market Value per share of the Common Stock covered by the stock option on
      the Grant Date.

            (B) The option price for each stock option shall be paid in full
      upon exercise and shall be payable in cash in United States dollars
      (including check, bank draft or money order); provided, however, that in
      lieu of such cash the person exercising the stock option may pay the
      option price in whole or in part by delivering to the Company shares of
      the Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the
      stock option equal to the option price for the shares being purchased;
      except that (i) any portion of the option price representing a fraction of
      a share shall in any event be paid in cash and (ii) no shares of the
      Common Stock which have been held for less than one year may be

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      delivered in payment of the option price of a stock option. The date of
      exercise of a stock option shall be determined under procedures
      established by the Committee, and as of the date of exercise the person
      exercising the stock option shall be considered for all purposes to be the
      owner of the shares with respect to which the stock option has been
      exercised. Payment of the option price with shares shall not increase the
      number of shares of the Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan as
      provided in Section 2.

            (C) No stock option shall be exercisable by a grantee during the
      first six months of its term except in case of death or Disability.
      Subject to the terms of Section 4(E) providing for earlier termination of
      a stock option, no stock option shall be exercisable after the expiration
      of ten years from the Grant Date. A stock option to the extent exercisable
      at any time may be exercised in whole or in part.

            (D) No stock option shall be transferable by the grantee otherwise
      than by Will, or if the grantee dies intestate, by the laws of descent and
      distribution of the state of domicile of the grantee at the time of death.
      All stock options shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the grantee
      only by the grantee or the grantee's guardian or legal representative.

            (E) Subject to Section 4(C), if a grantee ceases to be a Director of
      the Company for any reason, any outstanding stock options held by the
      grantee shall be exercisable and shall terminate according to the
      following provisions:

                  (i) If a grantee ceases to be a Director of the Company for
            any reason other than resignation, removal for cause or death, any
            then outstanding stock option held by such grantee shall be
            exercisable by the grantee (whether or not exercisable by the
            grantee immediately prior to ceasing to be a Director) at any time
            prior to the expiration date of such stock option or within five
            years after the date the grantee ceases to be a Director, whichever
            is the shorter period;

                  (ii) If during his term of office as a Director a grantee
            resigns from the Board or is removed from office for cause, any
            outstanding stock option held by the grantee which is not
            exercisable by the grantee immediately prior to resignation or
            removal shall terminate as of the date of resignation or removal,
            and any outstanding stock option held by the grantee which is
            exercisable by the grantee immediately prior to resignation or
            removal shall be exercisable by the grantee at any time prior to the
            expiration date of such stock option or within 90 days after the
            date of resignation or removal, whichever is the shorter period;

                  (iii) Following the death of a grantee during service as a
            Director of the Company, any outstanding stock option held by the
            grantee at the time of death (whether or not exercisable by the
            grantee immediately prior to death) shall be exercisable by the
            person entitled to do so under the Will of the grantee, or, if the
            grantee shall fail to make testamentary disposition of the stock
            option or shall die intestate, by the legal representative of the
            grantee at any time prior to the expiration date of such stock
            option or within five years after the date of death, whichever is
            the shorter period;

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                  (iv) Following the death of a grantee after ceasing to be a
            Director and during a period when a stock option is exercisable, any
            outstanding stock option held by the grantee at the time of death
            shall be exercisable by such person entitled to do so under the Will
            of the grantee or by such legal representative (but only to the
            extent the stock option was exercisable by the grantee immediately
            prior to the death of the grantee) within one year after the date of
            death or, if applicable, within the period provided in Section
            4(E)(i), whichever is the longer period, but not later than the
            expiration date of such stock option.

      A stock option held by a grantee who has ceased to be a Director of the
      Company shall terminate upon the expiration of the applicable exercise
      period, if any, specified in this Section 4(E).

            (F) All stock options shall be confirmed by an agreement, or an
      amendment thereto, which shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the
      Chief Executive Officer (if other than the President), the President or
      any Vice President and by the grantee.

            (G) The obligation of the Company to issue shares of the Common
      Stock under the Plan shall be subject to (i) the effectiveness of a
      registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with
      respect to such shares, if deemed necessary or appropriate by counsel for
      the Company, (ii) the condition that the shares shall have been listed (or
      authorized for listing upon official notice of issuance) upon each stock
      exchange, if any, on which the Common Stock shares may then be listed and
      (iii) all other applicable laws, regulations, rules and orders which may
      then be in effect.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 4 and the other provisions
of the Plan, any stock option granted under the Plan may be subject to such
restrictions and other terms and conditions, if any, as shall be determined, in
its discretion, by the Committee and set forth in the agreement referred to in
Section 4(F), or an amendment thereto.

                                    SECTION 5
                    Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock

      Restricted stock awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
following terms and conditions:

            (A) As of the Grant Date of the restricted stock award, certificates
      representing the shares of restricted stock shall be issued in the name of
      the Director and held by the Company in escrow until the earlier of the
      forfeiture of the shares of restricted stock to the Company or the lapse
      of the service restriction with respect to such shares. The Director shall
      execute and deliver to the Company a blank stock power in form acceptable
      to the Company with respect to each of the certificates representing the
      shares of restricted stock. Such stock power shall be returned to the
      Director if the service restriction lapses with respect to the shares to
      which the stock power relates.

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            (B) The Director shall not sell, exchange, assign, alienate, pledge,
      hypothecate, encumber, charge, give, transfer or otherwise dispose of,
      either voluntarily or by operation of law, any shares of restricted stock,
      or any rights or interests appertaining thereto, prior to the lapse of the
      service restriction imposed thereon and the issuance or transfer to the
      Director of certificates with respect to such shares, except that, subject
      to the provisions of Section 5(F), shares of restricted stock may be
      transferred by the Director by Will or, if the Director dies intestate, by
      the laws of descent and distribution of the state of domicile of the
      Director at the time of death.

            (C) As of the Grant Date, the Director shall be a shareholder of the
      Company with respect to the restricted stock and shall have all the rights
      of a shareholder with respect to the restricted stock, including the right
      to vote the restricted stock and to receive all dividends and other
      distributions paid with respect to such restricted stock, subject to the
      restrictions of the Plan and the restricted stock agreement, including
      without limitation the restriction that, with the exception of regular
      quarterly dividends payable in cash, all dividends and distributions on
      the restricted stock, whether paid in cash, Common Stock or other
      securities or property will be held in escrow subject to the same
      restrictions as the restricted stock.

            (D) If the Director's service as a Director of the Company
      terminates for any reason, other than as a result of the Director's death,
      Disability or Retirement, prior to the date of the third Annual Meeting of
      Shareholders of the Company following the Grant Date, then 100% of the
      shares of restricted stock awarded on the Grant Date shall, upon such
      termination of service and without any further action, be forfeited to the
      Company by the Director and cease to be issued and outstanding shares of
      Common Stock.

            If the Director remains a Director of the Company until the date of
      the third Annual Meeting following the Grant Date and the shares of
      restricted stock have not been previously forfeited to the Company
      pursuant to Section 5(E), the service restriction on 100% of the shares of
      restricted stock originally awarded on that Grant Date shall lapse, and a
      certificate representing such shares shall be issued or transferred by the
      Company to the Director. If the Director's service with the Company or a
      Subsidiary terminates as a result of the Director's death, Disability or
      Retirement, the service restriction imposed on any shares of restricted
      stock set forth above which have not been previously forfeited to the
      Company pursuant to Section 5(E) and on which the service restriction has
      not previously lapsed shall lapse, and a certificate representing such
      shares shall be issued or transferred by the Company to the Director (or
      the Director's personal representative).

            (E) Following the lapse of the service restriction on shares of
      restricted stock and the issuance or transfer of certificates representing
      such shares (and subject to Section 5(G) hereof), the Director shall not
      sell, exchange, assign, alienate, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, charge,
      give, transfer or otherwise dispose of ("transfer"), either voluntarily or
      by operation of law, any such shares or any rights or interests
      appertaining thereto and, in the case of death of the Director, the
      Director's personal representative shall not transfer such shares or any
      such rights or interests in accordance with the Director's Will, or if the
      Director dies intestate, with the laws of descent and distribution,
      without first offering to sell such shares to the Company at a price equal
      to the Fair

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      Market Value of the shares on the date of the mailing of the offer by the
      Director (or the Director's personal representative) to the Company. The
      Director (or within 90 days of the Director's death, the Director's
      personal representative) shall offer such shares to the Company for a
      period of 30 days by giving written notice by certified mail to the
      Company at its principal executive offices to the attention of its Vice
      President - Finance. Such offer may be accepted by the Company by
      delivering written notice of acceptance to the Director (or the Director's
      personal representative) by certified mail during the 30-day period during
      which the offer remains open. The date such notice is postmarked shall be
      deemed the date of acceptance. The purchase of the restricted stock shall
      be consummated, and payment in full for the shares purchased shall be
      made, at the principal executive offices of the Company in the United
      States on such date and at such time as may be reasonably designated by
      the Company in such written notice delivered to the Director (or the
      Director's personal representative), but not later than 30 days following
      the date of such written notice. Upon receipt of the purchase price, the
      Director (or the Director's personal representative) shall assign,
      transfer and deliver to the Company the certificates for the purchased
      restricted stock, duly endorsed, with all necessary stock transfer tax
      stamps duly affixed, together with any and all of the documents required
      effectively to transfer such restricted stock. If the Company does not
      accept the offer of the Director (or the Director's personal
      representative) within the required period, the Director (or the
      Director's personal representative) may transfer the restricted stock so
      offered, and such restricted stock shall no longer be subject to the
      Company's right of first refusal. If, at the date of death of the
      Director, the Director has previously offered shares to the Company
      pursuant to this Section 5(F) and the Company did not accept such offer,
      the Director's personal representative may transfer such shares without
      again offering such shares to the Company pursuant to this Section 5(F).

            (F) Each certificate representing shares of restricted stock shall
      have noted on the face of such certificate the following legend:

                  "Notice is hereby given that the shares of stock represented
            by this certificate are held subject to, and may not be transferred
            except in accordance with, the Mine Safety Appliances Company 1990
            Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan and a restricted stock
            agreement executed thereunder, copies of which are on file at the
            office of Mine Safety Appliances Company."

            (G) All restricted stock awards shall be confirmed by an agreement,
      or an amendment thereto, which shall be executed on behalf of the Company
      by the Chief Executive Officer (if other than the President), the
      President or any Vice President and by the grantee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 and the other provisions
of the Plan, any restricted stock award granted under the Plan may be subject to
such additional restrictions and other terms and conditions, if any, as shall be
determined, in its discretion, by the Committee and set forth in the agreement
referred to in Section 5(G), or an amendment thereto.

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                                    SECTION 6
                      Adjustment and Substitution of Shares

      If a dividend or other distribution shall be declared upon the Common
Stock payable in shares of the Common Stock, the number of shares of the Common
Stock set forth in Section 3, the number of shares of the Common Stock then
subject to any outstanding stock options and the number of shares of the Common
Stock which may be issued under the Plan but are not then subject to outstanding
stock options or restricted stock awards shall be adjusted by adding thereto the
number of shares of the Common Stock which would have been distributable thereon
if such shares had been outstanding on the date fixed for determining the
shareholders entitled to receive such stock dividend or distribution. Shares of
Common Stock so distributed with respect to any restricted stock held in escrow
shall also be held by the Company in escrow and shall be subject to the same
restrictions as are applicable to the shares of restricted stock on which they
were distributed.

      If the outstanding shares of the Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchangeable for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other
securities of the Company or another corporation, or cash or other property,
whether through reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, stock
split-up, combination of shares, merger or consolidation, then there shall be
substituted for each share of the Common Stock set forth in Section 3, for each
share of the Common Stock subject to any then outstanding stock option, and for
each share of the Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan but which is
not then subject to any outstanding stock option or restricted stock award, the
number and kind of shares of stock or other securities (and in the case of
outstanding options, the cash or other property) into which each outstanding
share of the Common Stock shall be so changed or for which each such share shall
be exchangeable. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion,
any such stock or securities, as well as any cash or other property, into or for
which any restricted stock held in escrow shall be changed or exchangeable in
any such transaction shall also be held by the Company in escrow and shall be
subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the restricted stock in
respect of which such stock, securities, cash or other property was issued or
distributed.

      In case of any adjustment or substitution as provided for in this Section
6, the aggregate option price for all shares subject to each then outstanding
stock option prior to such adjustment or substitution shall be the aggregate
option price for all shares of stock or other securities (including any
fraction) to which such shares shall have been adjusted or which shall have been
substituted for such shares. Any new option price per share shall be carried to
at least three decimal places with the last decimal place rounded upwards to the
nearest whole number.

      No adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 6 shall require
the Company to issue or sell a fraction of a share or other security.
Accordingly, all fractional shares or other securities which result from any
such adjustment or substitution shall be eliminated and not carried forward to
any subsequent adjustment or substitution.

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                                    SECTION 7
          Effect of the Plan on the Rights of Company and Shareholders

      Nothing in the Plan, in any stock option or restricted stock award granted
under the Plan, or in any stock option or restricted stock agreement shall
confer any right to any person to continue as a Director of the Company or
interfere in any way with the rights of the shareholders of the Company or the
Board of Directors to elect and remove Directors.

                                    SECTION 8
                            Amendment and Termination

      The right to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time and the
right to terminate the Plan at any time are hereby specifically reserved to the
Board; provided always that no such termination shall terminate any outstanding
stock options granted under the Plan; and provided further that no amendment of
the Plan shall (a) be made without shareholder approval if shareholder approval
of the amendment is at the time required for stock options under the Plan to
qualify for the exemption from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act provided by
Rule 16b-3 or by the rules of the NASDAQ National Market System or any stock
exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed or (b) otherwise amend the
Plan in any manner that would cause stock options or restricted stock awards
under the Plan not to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3. No
amendment or termination of the Plan shall, without the written consent of the
holder of a stock option or restricted stock award theretofore awarded under the
Plan, adversely affect the rights of such holder with respect thereto.

      Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding paragraph or any other
provision of the Plan or any stock option or restricted stock agreement, the
Board shall have the power to amend the Plan in any manner deemed necessary or
advisable for stock options and restricted stock awards granted under the Plan
to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule
relating to exemption from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act), and any such
amendment shall, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, be
applicable to any outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards
theretofore granted under the Plan notwithstanding any contrary provisions
contained in any stock option or restricted stock agreement. In the event of any
such amendment to the Plan, the holder of any stock option or restricted stock
award outstanding under the Plan shall, upon request of the Committee and as a
condition to the exercisability of such option or the retention of such
restricted stock award, execute a conforming amendment in the form prescribed by
the Committee to the stock option agreement or the restricted stock agreement,
as the case may be, within such reasonable time as the Committee shall specify
in such request.

                                    SECTION 9
                       Effective Date and Duration of Plan

      The effective date and date of adoption of the Plan shall be December 17,
1990, the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board, provided that on or prior
to December 31, 1991 such adoption of the Plan by the Board is approved by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares
of voting stock of the Company represented in person or by

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proxy at a duly called and convened meeting of such holders. Notwithstanding any
other provision contained in the Plan, no stock option granted under the Plan
may be exercised until after such shareholder approval.

                                   SECTION 10
                                Change in Control

      Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary,
immediately prior to any Change in Control of the Company (as defined in Section
11), all stock options which are then outstanding hereunder shall become fully
vested and exercisable, and all restrictions with respect to shares of
restricted stock awarded hereunder shall lapse, and such shares shall be fully
vested and nonforfeitable. As used in the immediately preceding sentence,
"immediately prior" to the Change in Control shall mean sufficiently in advance
of the Change in Control to permit the grantee to take all steps reasonably
necessary to exercise the option fully and to deal with the shares purchased
under the option and the restricted stock released from restriction so that
those shares may be treated in the same manner in connection with the Change in
Control as the shares of Common Stock of other shareholders.

                                   SECTION 11
                                   Definitions

      In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, as used in the Plan:

      Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the
      ----------------
Exchange Act.

      A Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set
        -----------------
forth in any one of the following four paragraphs shall have occurred:

            (I) any Person (as defined in this Section 11) is or becomes the
      Beneficial Owner (as defined in this Section 11), directly or indirectly,
      of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially
      owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or
      its Affiliates (which term shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2
      promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as defined in this
      Section 11)) representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined
      voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities, excluding any
      Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a
      transaction described in clause (I) of paragraph (III) below; or

            (II) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a
      majority of the number of Directors then serving: individuals who, on May
      5, 1998, constitute the Board and any new Director (other than a Director
      whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
      threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent
      solicitation, relating to the election of Directors of the Company) whose
      appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the
      Company's shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least
      two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then still in office who either were
      Directors on May 5, 1998 or whose

                                      -9-
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      appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so
      approved or recommended; or

            (III) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company
      or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other
      corporation, other than (I) a merger or consolidation which would result
      in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to
      such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining
      outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
      entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any
      trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
      plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, at least fifty-one
      percent (51%) of the combined voting power of the securities of the
      Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding
      immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (ii) a merger or
      consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or
      similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial
      Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
      thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
      then outstanding securities; or

            (IV) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
      liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an
      agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or
      substantially all of the Company's assets, other than a sale or
      disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's
      assets to an entity, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the combined
      voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by shareholders
      of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of
      the Company immediately prior to such sale.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to
have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of
integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the
common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of
transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in
an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

      Disability shall mean that the Director is disabled within the meaning of
      ----------
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. Whether a grantee is so disabled shall be
determined, in its discretion, by the Committee, and any such determination by
the Committee shall be final and binding.

      Exchange Act shall mean the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
      ------------
amended from time to time.

      Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the mean between the
      -----------------
following prices, as applicable, for the date as of which Fair Market Value is
to be determined as quoted in The Wall Street Journal (or in such other reliable
                              -----------------------
publication as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine to rely upon):
(a) if the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the highest
and lowest sales prices per share of the Common Stock as quoted in the
NYSE-Composite Transactions listing for such date, (b) if the Common Stock is
not listed on such exchange, the highest and lowest sales prices per share of
Common Stock for such date on

                                      -10-
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(or on any composite index including) the principal United States securities
exchange registered under the Exchange Act on which the Common Stock is listed,
or (c) if the Common Stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest and
lowest sales prices per share of the Common Stock for such date on the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System or any successor
system then in use ("NASDAQ"). If there are no such sale price quotations for
the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined but there are such
sale price quotations within a reasonable period both before and after such
date, then Fair Market Value shall be determined by taking a weighted average of
the means between the highest and lowest sales prices per share of the Common
Stock as so quoted on the nearest date before and the nearest date after the
date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined. The average should be
weighted inversely by the respective numbers of trading days between the selling
dates and the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined. If there
are no such sale price quotations on or within a reasonable period both before
and after the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, then Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the mean between the bona fide bid and
asked prices per share of Common Stock as so quoted for such date on NASDAQ, or
if none, the weighted average of the means between such bona fide bid and asked
prices on the nearest trading date before and the nearest trading date after the
date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, if both such dates are
within a reasonable period. The average is to be determined in the manner
described above in this paragraph. If the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
cannot be determined on the basis previously set forth in this paragraph for the
date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, the Committee shall in
good faith determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on such date.
Fair Market Value shall be determined without regard to any restriction other
than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.

      Person shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange
      ------
Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such
term shall not include (I) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company,
or (v) any individual or entity [including the trustees (in such capacity) of
any such entity which is a trust] which is, directly or indirectly, the
Beneficial Owner of securities of the Company representing five percent (5%) or
more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities
immediately before the date hereof or any Affiliate of any such individual or
entity, including, for purposes of this Plan, any of the following: (A) any
trust (including the trustees thereof in such capacity) established by or for
the benefit of any such individual; (B) any charitable foundation (whether a
trust or a corporation, including the trustees or directors thereof in such
capacity) established by any such individual; (C) any spouse of any such
individual; (D) the ancestors (and spouses) and lineal descendants (and spouses)
of such individual and such spouse; (E) the brothers and sisters (whether by the
whole or half blood or by adoption)of either such individual or such spouse; or
(F) the lineal descendants (and their spouses) of such brothers and sisters.

      Retirement shall mean a termination of a Director's service on the Board
      ----------
on or after the date that (1) the Director has completed least 5 years of
service as a Director and (2) the Director's combined age and service as a
Director satisfy the "Rule of 75." The "Rule of 75"

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

shall be satisfied when the sum of the Director's age (measured in full and
partial years, in increments of one-twelfth (1/12) year) and the Director's
years of service as a Director (measured in full and partial years, in
increments of one-twelfth (1/12) year) equals or exceeds 75.

                                      -12-<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT (10)(g)

                        MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
                          EXECUTIVE INSURANCE PROGRAM
                    As Amended and Restated January 1, 2001

Section 1 - Purpose
-------------------

     The purpose of the Executive Insurance Program ("EIP" or "Plan") is to
enable Mine Safety Appliances Company (the "Company") to assist certain of the
Company's senior management employees in providing life insurance benefits for
their families and dependents during their working career with the Company and
to provide them with additional flexibility and post-employment benefits upon
their retirement from active employment with the Company.  This result is to be
accomplished by substituting, for each eligible employee, all but $50,000 of
group term life insurance with individual life insurance.  All of the premium
cost will be paid by the Company.

Section 2 - Definitions
-----------------------

     The following definitions shall apply for purposes of the Plan unless
another meaning is clearly required by the context.

     "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the
      ----------------
Exchange Act.

     "Beneficiary" shall mean any person, persons or entity who or which may be
      -----------
designated by a Participant as the recipient of any benefits to which the same
may be entitled under the terms of the Plan upon the death of the Participant.

     "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company as it may be
      -----
constituted from time to time.

     "Company" shall mean Mine Safety Appliances Company, including any
      -------
subsidiaries or affiliates, or any successor thereto, except that in the
definitions provided in this Section 2 of Change in Control and of Person,
"Company" shall mean only the Mine Safety Appliances Company.

     "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth
      -----------------
in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

               (I)  any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
          indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the
          securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired
          directly from the Company or its Affiliates (which term shall have the
          meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the
          Exchange Act)) representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the
          combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities,
          excluding
<PAGE>

          any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a
          transaction described in clause (i) of paragraph (III) below; or

               (II)   the following individuals cease for any reason to
          constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving:
          individuals who, on January 1, 2001, constitute the Board and any new
          director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is
          in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including
          but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of
          directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board
          or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved
          or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors
          then still in office who either were directors on January 1, 2001 or
          whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously
          so approved or recommended; or

               (III)  there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the
          Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any
          other corporation, other than (i) a merger or consolidation which
          would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
          immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to
          represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
          voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in
          combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary
          holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or
          any subsidiary of the Company, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the
          combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such
          surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after
          such merger or consolidation, or (ii) a merger or consolidation
          effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar
          transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner,
          directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
          thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the
          Company's then outstanding securities; or

               (IV)   the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
          liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an
          agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or
          substantially all of the Company's assets, other than a sale or
          disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
          Company's assets to an entity, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the
          combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by
          shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
          their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have
occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of
integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the
common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of
transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in
an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

                                       2
<PAGE>

     "Death Benefit" shall mean the gross amount payable by an Insurer under the
      -------------
terms of a policy issued hereunder upon the death of a Participant.  A portion
of the Death Benefit, referred to as the "Insurance Amount" (as listed in the
"Table of Insurance Amounts" attached hereto), will be paid to the Participant's
Beneficiaries and the balance paid to the Company.

     "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
      ------------
from time to time.

     "Insurer" shall mean the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company and/or
      -------
any other insurance carrier selected by the Company to issue Policies hereunder
and which is authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

     "Participant" shall mean any member of senior management of the Company
      -----------
authorized by the Board to participate in the Plan.

     "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange
      ------
Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such
term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company,
or (v) any individual or entity [including the trustees (in such capacity) of
any such entity which is a trust] which is, directly or indirectly, the
Beneficial Owner of securities of the Company representing five percent (5%) or
more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities
immediately before the date hereof or any Affiliate of any such individual or
entity, including, for purposes of this Plan, any of the following: (A)  any
trust (including the trustees thereof in such capacity) established by or for
the benefit of any such individual; (B) any charitable foundation (whether a
trust or a corporation, including the trustees or directors thereof in such
capacity) established by any such individual; (C) any spouse of any such
individual; (D) the ancestors (and spouses) and lineal descendants (and spouses)
of such individual and such spouse; (E) the brothers and sisters (whether by the
whole or half blood or by adoption)of either such individual or such spouse; or
(F) the lineal descendants (and their spouses) of such brothers and sisters.

     "Plan" shall mean the Executive Insurance Program described herein.
      ----

     "Policy" shall mean an insurance contract issued by an Insurer on the life
      ------
of a Participant.

     "Retired Participant" shall mean a Participant who has terminated his
      -------------------
active employment as an employee of the Company on or after a date when his
combined age and service satisfy the "Rule of 70" as follows:  the sum of the
Participant's age (measured in full and partial years, in increments of one-
twelfth (1/12) year) and the Participant's years of employment with the Company
(measured in full and partial years, in increments of one-twelfth (1/12) year)
equals or exceeds 70.

                                       3
<PAGE>

Section 3 - Eligibility
-----------------------

     Those members of management who are eligible to participate in the
Executive Insurance Program shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
and such other key members of senior management as shall be designated from time
to time by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and approved for
participation by the Board of Directors.

Section 4 - Amount and Effective Date of Coverage
-------------------------------------------------

     The initial amount of life insurance coverage provided under the Plan to
those selected for participation as of the effective date of the Plan shall be
as described in the "Table of Insurance Amounts" attached hereto.  The amount of
life insurance provided to executives who are selected for participation after
the effective date of the Plan shall be in an amount determined by the Chief
Executive Officer and approved by the Board at the time of their selection.

     The effective date of insurance coverage hereunder shall be the later of
the date of the employee's selection for participation herein or acceptance by
the Insurer as a standard risk.  The cancellation of a Participant's group term
life insurance in excess of $50,000, and his actual participation in this Plan
shall be conditioned upon his insurability in a standard risk category for the
benefit to be provided herein or, if not insurable in a standard risk category,
the acceptance by the Company of the non-standard risk category proposed by the
Insurer.

     The Board reserves the right to change the amount of insurance on the life
of any Participant from time to time, and any such change in the level of
insurance shall be effective as of the later of the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the effective date of the change or the date
of acceptance by the Insurer of the new insurance amount at standard rates, or
acceptance by the Company of an offer of insurance made by the Insurer at non-
standard rates; provided, however, that, from and after the first date on which
the combined age and service of any Participant (whether a Retired Participant
or an active Participant) satisfy the Rule of 70 (as the satisfaction of such
Rule is described in the definition of Retired Participant which appears in
Section 2 hereof) or will have satisfied the Rule of 70 upon an assumed
immediate termination of employment (as the requirements for satisfaction of
such Rule may have been modified by any written Severance Agreement between the
Company and such Participant), the amount of insurance on the life of such
Participant (sometimes referred to in this Plan as the "Insurance Amount")
cannot be decreased.

Section 5 - Payment for Coverage
--------------------------------

     The cost of the applicable amount of life insurance on the life of the
Participant shall be paid when due by the Company.  The Company shall annually
furnish each Participant with a statement of imputed income reportable by the
Participant for income tax purposes as a result of the payment.

                                       4
<PAGE>

Section 6 - Payment of Proceeds Upon Death While Employed
---------------------------------------------------------

     In the event of the death of the Participant while employed by the Company,
the gross death benefit payable under the Policy shall be split between the
Company and the Participant's Beneficiary.  The Beneficiary shall receive an
amount equal to the Insurance Amount and the Company shall receive the
difference between the gross Death Benefit and the Insurance Amount.  The
amounts payable to the Company and the Beneficiary shall be paid directly to
each payee by the Insurer directly from the Insurer.

Section 7 - Options Upon Retirement of a Participant
----------------------------------------------------

     Subject to Section 8 hereof, at any time prior to the year in which a
Participant becomes a Retired Participant, he shall have the right to make an
irrevocable election in writing of one of the following three options with
respect to his Insurance Amount.  If a Participant shall fail to make such an
election, he shall be deemed to have elected the supplemental retirement benefit
payments described in this Section 7 as Option 3.

     (1)    Maintain the Existing Arrangement.  Under this option the Executive
            ----------------------------------
Insurance Program would remain as it existed prior to the Participant's
retirement.  For federal income tax purposes, a Retired Participant will be
deemed to have received imputed income, but the Death Benefit received by the
Participant's Beneficiary will not be subject to federal income tax.

     (2)    Company-Paid Post-Retirement Death Benefit.  Alternatively, the
            ------------------------------------------
Participant can elect not to continue the Executive Insurance Program, but in
lieu thereof, can elect a non-insured post-retirement death benefit equal to the
Insurance Amount in effect at the date of the Participant's retirement.  Under
this Option there is no imputed income for tax purposes to the Retired
Participant but the Death Benefit paid to the Participant's Beneficiary by the
Company will be subject to federal income tax when received.

     (3)    Supplemental Retirement Benefits.  Rather than a continuation of the
            --------------------------------
Death Benefit described in either Option 1 or Option 2 above, a Participant can
elect to receive a series of supplemental retirement payments which, in the
aggregate, equal three-quarters (75%) of the pre-retirement Insurance Amount
except that for a Participant who will receive supplemental retirement benefits
under this Section 7(3) for the first time on or after January 1, 2001, such
Participant can elect to receive a series of supplemental retirement payments
which, in the aggregate, equal one hundred (100%) percent of the pre-retirement
Insurance Amount.  Payment of the supplemental retirement benefits shall be made
in a series of approximately equal semi- monthly payments over a period of 15
years.  Payment of such semi-monthly payments to the Retired Participant shall
commence no later than sixty days after the Retired Participant's termination of
employment with the Company.

     The Supplemental Retirement Benefit Option may be elected by a Participant
at any time on or after August 1, 1991.  It shall be available to any
Participant who retires on or after that date as well as to any previously
Retired Participant who had previously elected either Option 1 or Option 2.  If
the supplemental retirement payments of Option 3 are elected, and in the event
of

                                       5
<PAGE>

the death of the Retired Participant prior to the completion of the 15-year
payment period, the then unpaid installments shall continue to be paid to the
Retired Participant's Beneficiary or, at the discretion of the Board, may be
commuted and paid to such Beneficiary in a single sum as soon as may be
practicable after the Board's decision to make such a single sum payment.

Section 8 - Effect of a Change in Control
-----------------------------------------

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, if a Participant's
termination of employment occurs on, or within the three-year period immediately
following, a Change in Control and the Participant thereupon becomes a Retired
Participant within the meaning of Section 2 hereof (the determination of such
Retired Participant status taking into account any relevant provision in any
written Severance Agreement the Participant may have with the Company), then,
not later than the fifth (5th) business day following such termination, the
Company shall pay the Retired Participant a lump sum amount equal to the present
value of the series of supplemental retirement payments described as Option 3 in
Section 7 hereof to which the Retired Participant would otherwise be entitled if
the Retired Participant had elected Option 3.  The Company's payment of such
lump sum shall be in lieu of making payment to the Retired Participant in
accordance with any option described in Section 7 hereof.  For purposes of this
Section 8, such present value shall be determined using a discount rate equal to
120% of the applicable rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Section 9 - Administration, Amendment, Termination
--------------------------------------------------

     The Board, or its delegate, shall be the "Administrator" of this Plan, and
shall have full power and authority to interpret, construe and administer the
same.  Any such interpretation and construction shall be final and binding upon
any and all parties in interest.  In addition, the Board shall have the right to
amend this Plan from time to time, and to terminate it at any time..
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, no amendment or
termination of this Plan by the Board and no act (or failure to act) by the
Board (or its delegate) as Administrator shall affect detrimentally the rights
under the Plan of any Retired Participant or of any active Participant whose
combined age and service have satisfied the Rule of 70 (as the satisfaction of
such Rule is described in the definition of Retired Participant which appears in
Section 2 hereof) or will have satisfied the Rule of 70 upon an assumed
immediate termination of employment (as the requirements for satisfaction of
such Rule may have been modified by any written Severance Agreement between the
Company and such Participant).

Section 10 - Miscellaneous Matters
----------------------------------

     (a)     No Right to Assets.  No Participant, Beneficiary or other person or
             ------------------
entity claiming entitlement to any benefit from or through such person shall
have any right to or title in any policy or any other asset obtained by the
Company for the purpose of funding the benefits provided hereunder except as
otherwise expressly provided herein.

                                       6
<PAGE>

     (b)     Alienation.  Except with respect to the designation of a
             ----------
Beneficiary to be the recipient of any death benefits hereunder, or the
assignment of the incidents of ownership of any death benefits hereunder, the
interest of Participants and their Beneficiaries under the Plan are not in any
way subject to their debts or other obligations and may not be voluntarily or
involuntarily sold, transferred, assigned, alienated or encumbered, and any
attempt to do so shall be void

     (c)     Construction.     The Plan shall be construed and administered
             ------------
according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and any federal laws
which may from time to time be applicable.  Whenever any words are used herein
in the masculine gender, they shall be construed as though they were also used
in the feminine gender in all cases where they would apply, and whenever any
words are used in the singular form, they shall be construed as though they were
also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.  Headings
of Sections of this instrument are inserted for convenience of reference only
and as such they constitute no part of this Plan and are not to be considered in
the construction hereof.

     (d)     Limitation of Benefit.  All benefits hereunder except those
             ---------------------
described in Section 8 and Options 2 and 3 of Section 7 shall be payable solely
by the Insurer(s) under the Policies issued hereunder, and the Company does not
assume any liability or responsibility therefor or guarantee such benefits.  The
liability and responsibility of the Company are strictly limited to the
provisions of this Plan.

                                       7
<PAGE>

                          TABLE OF INSURANCE AMOUNTS
                          --------------------------

                    Title                      Amount
                    -----                      ------

                    Chairman                   $1,000,000

                    President                  $  750,000

                    Vice President             $  600,000

                    Executive                  $  300,000

                                       8

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