Build delts and traps in one vertical pull.
Don't pull above chest height or with a too-narrow grip. Keep it shoulder-friendly.
Pulling a bar vertically up your torso with the elbows leading is a rare thing: a compound lift that bias loads the side delts, with the traps hoisting from above and the biceps bending the arms along the way. The barbell version lets you overload the pattern harder than cables or dumbbells can. Grip width and pull height decide whether it feels great or grinds, so set both deliberately.
Kept sensible, yes for most people. The trouble comes from a very narrow grip pulled to the chin. Grip at shoulder width, stop at chest height with the elbows just above the wrists, and skip it if pulling up ever pinches.
To around chest height. Pulling higher forces the shoulders into deep internal rotation under load, which is where upright rows earn their bad reputation. Height past the chest adds risk, not delt.
Same target, different tools. Lateral raises isolate the side delts with light weights, upright rows hit them with compound load plus trap work in the same pull. Plenty of good shoulder programmes run both.
