Abstract: Taking the small coal pillar area of 1202 return air roadway in Bayangaole Coal Mine as the research object, the stress distribution state and roof fracture structure characteristics of the small coal pillar area were studied by means of numerical simulation, theoretical analysis and borehole peep. The pressure relief mechanism and fracture structure of coal pillar side roof were analyzed, the results show that the fracture of the goaf roof can achieve the transfer and release of stress, with a drop of 32.0% compared with the vertical stress before the fracture, and a 4 m shift of the area of stress peak value to the solid coal side, at the same time, the stress difference between the coal in the corner and other areas is reduced effectively. The fracture types of the side roof of small coal pillars were divided, and combined with the results of full section peep, the blasting parameters of hard roof on the side of coal pillar were determined by deep hole blasting technique. After the implementation of roof control measures, roadway deformation is effectively controlled, and the risk of rock burst in small coal pillar area is reduced.