Based on low strength of soft coal seam coal， coal wall with rib spalling problem， according to coal wall rib spalling mechanism and shallow hole water injection rib spalling prevention analysis， soft coal seam coal wall shallow hole water injection rib spalling prevention was studied. Two rib spalling forms that rip damage and cut damage in coal wall were settled， the mechanism that shallow hole water injection could improve the stability of coal， prevent the coal wall rib spalling was got. Based on this， shallow hole water injection rib spalling prevention technology parameters were designed. Through Xin’an Mine 15070 working face field application， shallow hole water injection technology greatly improved working face rib spalling problem， ensured the normal advancing of working face.