Abstract: We pointed out that there are some problems in close distance coal seams safe mining by introducing the study at home and abroad about mining method, roadway arrangement way, reasonable size of coal pillar, etc. We concludes that the definition of close distance coal seams is determined by the theoretical research and the actual data; the mining method selection should consider the synthetic effect of the properties and structure of upper coal seam overlying strata; the theoretical research of reasonable size of coal pillar should give full consideration to the properties of surrounding strata and mining effect of lower coal seam, combining with the similarity simulation experiment and numerical simulation of laboratory.