With the continuous improvement of mining technology and equipment in China’s coal mines, the number of working faces with high-intensity mining is increasing, and the area of surface damage continues to increase compared with previous years. In order to ensure safe production and protect the overall environment of the mining area, the damage characteristics of overlying rock and the transmission mechanism of surface damage in coal mining were analyzed, the forms of surface damage and their negative external influences were evaluated, the current situation of surface damage prevention and restoration technology was investigated, and the feasibility of surface damage economic utilization was considered. According to the above theoretical analysis and the current situation of China’s industry, this paper discusses the prevention and restoration of surface damage in China, and puts forward the following idea of mine governance: “utilization first, prevention and restoration later; natural restoration is the main approach, and artificial restoration is auxiliary; artificial restoration and natural restoration should be combined”, which provides a governance concept for mine surface damage management. This study on the negative external influence of rock and surface damage and its prevention and restoration technology is of great significance for mine safety and environmental protection.