Based on the human factor analysis and classification system (HFACS) model, this paper describes human factor analysis and classification system for coal mines (HFACS-CM). It is based on actual situations found in coal mines and includes characteristics relating to safe mining activities. Subsequently, a questionnaire was designed according to the factors affecting unsafe acts identified in the model, and the survey data collected was analysed to assess its reliability and validity. Building on these efforts, a structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to analyse the hierarchical structure relationship of the HFACS-CM model. This was used to categorize and verify the types of factors that affected miners' unsafe acts, and reveal the significant influences on unsafe acts of miners. Finally, from the aspects of the external environment, organizational influences, unsafe leadership, and preconditions four aspects, a comprehensive prevention and control system for miners' unsafe acts is proposed. The results show that, in accordance with the effect analysis, the external environment has the greatest direct and indirect impact on unsafe acts; as for the overall effect, from the most impactful factor to the least impactful factor are external environment, unsafe leadership, preconditions for unsafe acts, and organizational influences. From the model path structure, the unsafe leadership and preconditions for unsafe acts play an important role. They do not exert any direct influence on unsafe acts, yet serve as intermediate variables significantly affecting the miners' unsafe acts. (C) 2018 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.