Other Expenses (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

Schedule of other expenses

This Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations caption includes certain foreign currency gains, net gains on disposal of non-core assets, restructuring program costs, impaired asset write-downs, employee termination benefit costs and costs to exit activities.

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30						September 30
(In thousands)	2015			2014			2015			2014
Restructuring programs (see Note 18)	$	—		$	276		$	—		$	8,815
Net gains (a)	(1,747		)	(1,219		)	(8,479		)	(4,227		)
Foreign currency gains related to Harsco Rail Segment advances on contracts	—			—			(10,940		)	—
Bahrain salt cake disposal	7,000			—			7,000			—
Subcontractor settlement (see Note 12)	4,220			—			4,220			—
Impaired asset write-downs	731			590			731			14,670
Other (b)	7,188			866			11,297			8,115
Other expenses	$	17,392		$	513		$	3,829		$	27,373

(a) Net gains result from the sales of redundant properties (primarily land, buildings and related equipment) and non-core assets.

(b) Other includes employee termination benefit costs and costs to exit activities that are not directly related to the restructuring programs detailed in Note 18, Restructuring Programs.