Restructuring Programs (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

2011/2012 Restructuring Program

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost

The restructuring accrual for the 2011/2012 Restructuring Program at December 31, 2012 and the activity for the year then ended are as follows:

(In thousands)	Accrual December 31 2011		Additional Expenses Incurred (a)		Non-Cash Charges / Adjustments			Cash Payments			Foreign Currency Translation			Remaining Accrual December 31 2012
Harsco Infrastructure Segment
Employee termination benefit costs	$	14,500	$	17,495	$	(326	)	$	(25,265	)	$	595		$	6,999
Cost to exit activities	2,833		45,927		215			(39,997		)	22			9,000
Total Harsco Infrastructure Segment (b)	17,333		63,422		(111		)	(65,262		)	617			15,999
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Employee termination benefit costs	12,737		4,974		—			(11,017		)	(200		)	6,494
Cost to exit activities	—		499		—			—			—			499
Total Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment	12,737		5,473		—			(11,017		)	(200		)	6,993
Harsco Rail Segment
Employee termination benefit costs	50		67		—			(117		)	—			—
Harsco Corporate
Employee termination benefit costs	351		371		—			(709		)	—			13
Total	$	30,471	$	69,333	$	(111	)	$	(77,105	)	$	417		$	23,005

(a)     Includes principally the recognition of additional expenses due to timing considerations under U.S. GAAP, as well as adjustments to previously recorded restructuring charges resulting from changes in facts and circumstances in the implementation of these activities.

(b)     The table does not include $25.0 million of non-cash product rationalization expense or $17.7 million of proceeds from asset sales under the 2011/2012 Restructuring Program for this Segment as these items did not impact the restructuring accrual during 2012.

Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost

The restructuring accrual for the Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program at December 31, 2012 and the activity for the year then ended are as follows:

(In thousands)	Accrual December 31 2011		Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges (a)			Cash Payments			Foreign Currency Translation			Remaining Accrual December 31 2012
Harsco Infrastructure Segment
Cost to exit activities	$	11,929	$	(805	)	$	(4,178	)	$	(155	)	$	6,791
Employee termination benefit costs	211		(208		)	—			(3		)	—
Other	7		(5		)	—			(2		)	—
Total	$	12,147	$	(1,018	)	$	(4,178	)	$	(160	)	$	6,791

(a)       Adjustments to previously recorded restructuring charges resulted from changes in facts and circumstances in the implementation of these activities. 

Prior restructuring programs

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost

The restructuring accrual for those prior restructuring programs at December 31, 2012 and the activity for the year then ended are as follows:

(In thousands)	Accrual December 31 2011		Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges (a)			Cash Payments			Foreign Currency Translation			Remaining Accrual December 31 2012
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Employee termination benefit costs	$	1,280	$	(1,263	)	$	(43	)	$	26		$	—
Cost to exit activities	727		—			(124		)	(13		)	590
Total	$	2,007	$	(1,263	)	$	(167	)	$	13		$	590

(a)       Adjustments to previously recorded restructuring charges resulted from changes in facts and circumstances in the implementation of these activities.