MSA Safety - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

MSA Safety is Medium Risk.

MSA Safety Incorporated is Medium Risk. The company often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. MSA Safety implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. The company occasionally embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues at times. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Medium Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Lower Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	Lower Risk
Political Actions	Lower Risk

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

MSA Safety promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Supplier Code of Conduct requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (1). However, the company has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (2).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MSA Safety does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (1)(2).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

MSA Safety operates a supplier diversity program. From its Vendor Inclusion page: “MSA vendor inclusion mission is to proactivity identify, build relationships with, and purchase goods and services from certified small businesses, as well as enterprises owned by minorities, women, veterans, gay and lesbians, and disabled persons that can help MSA achieve its corporate objectives” (1). The company is an affirmative action employer. “Affirmative Action Employer” (2). MSA Safety does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (3).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

MSA Safety supports DEI within its business practices. From its Corporate Responsibility page: “we strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment that enables global collaboration, innovation and better business outcomes” (1). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2024 Impact Report: “The MSA Safety Board of Directors maintains oversight of the Company’s environmental, social, and governance affairs and has continued to assess its corporate governance framework in the context of the evolving landscape” (2).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MSA Safety has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MSA Safety’s PAC has been defunct since 2012 and has not used its lobbying for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).