Abstract: Aiming at the problem that the excessive friction between the balance tail rope and the branch rope beam of the vertical shaft friction hoist causes serious tail rope wear and affects the safe operation of the main hoist, a friction monitoring system between the balance tail rope and the branch rope beam of the main hoist is designed. The friction monitoring system mainly consists of a host computer, an inductive proximity switch, an active infrared radiation sensor and other equipment. The recognition reliability of the friction monitoring system is improved by adopting the concept of double-layer monitoring. The host computer performs audible and visual alarms and controls the operation of the lifting electric control system by monitoring the change of the signal. The results of field tests show that this system improves the reliability of the safe operation of the hoist and meets the actual requirements.