The research on the distribution of three zones of coal seam overburden is very important for coal mine safety production. Aiming at the problem of three-zone distribution of shallow and thick coal seam, this paper takes 52306 working face of 5^–2 coal seam in Daliuta mine as the research background, and determines the development height of three-zone through geological analysis, exploration drilling, theoretical calculation and field measurement. The results of the commonly used three-zone calculation empirical formula and the three-zone calculation fitting formula of Daliuta well are compared. It is found that the results are quite different and have certain limitations, but the theoretical calculation value provides a reference for the construction process. Through the comparative analysis of calculation results and exploration data, the water flowing fractured zone can be developed to No. 3 coal group. The actual development height of the water flowing fractured zone in this area is much higher than the calculated value of the empirical formula, so it may be connected to the 2^–2 coal seam and above aquifers, becoming the main water filling channel of the mine, forming a mine safety hazard. In order to ensure the safe mining of the mine, a rock movement sensor is established to monitor the real-time development process of the three zones during the mining of 5^–2 coal seam. The research results and methods have certain guiding significance for other similar working faces in mines.