I've seen someone tear a pec doing paused inclines with great form, they're just as dangerous as bench - the only 'safety' comes from the slightly lighter weight used
DB presses are a much smarter idea, but DB floor presses done with one arm are pretty much the safest pressing exercise you can do. It would be almost impossible to tear a pec doing these unless you flared out your elbows like an idiot or pushed into failure and lost control.
I lift with total control and slow reps but I still tore my pec muscle last year
stretching while massively fatigued and dehydrated at the end of a workout. It was only a minor tear but since then I don't use the barbell for anything, dropped dips and machine pressing. All can chew up your shoulders and pec tendons over the long haul.
I have a little cocktail wiener looking fascial tear in my left pec - in the middle from where I tore the fascia years ago.. when the pec gets pumped up, this lump pops out like a little hernia or alien. I wish I'd learned 15 years ago to lift with control at all times
