Bignate & coolcolJ are 100% correct.
The RDL is also much safer on the low back for the bend in the knee increase tension in the ITB thus allowing a force couple between the hams, glute max, spinal erectors and lower fibers of the lats. upto 80% of the fibers of the glute max insert in the ITB, if there is no tension in the band the glutes cannot aid in the lift and the majority of the work is done by the hams and and spinal erectors.
When the body reaches the critical point of lumbar flexion, approx 45 deg. the body switches from the muscular to the ligamentous system of the lumbar spine. If there is no support from the glutes there is a chance of overloading the spinal ligamnets and discs.
There is also a chance of hamstring injury,for the hamstrings attach to the lumbar fascia via the sacrotuberous ligamnet and if there is not proper tension of the TVA and glutes, the hamstrings are over recruited to aid in spinal stabilization while trying to perform hip extension - the hams get strained because they are over working. Of course any time the low back rounds and loses its natural curvature there is a chance of injury - but only if the load is heavy, for the ligaments can and do hypertrophy, in fact mathematical modeling by Gracovetsky shows that without the aid of the ligamentous system, Olympic lifters could not lift the weights they do. So it can actually be benefical for athletes and workers who do constant lumbar flexion / extension to train with light loads, higher reps with a "natural" spine i.e. they dont' hold a rigid lumbar lordosis - but the load must be light to avoid a sprained ligament.
So do RDL's - keep a tight lordosis with max loads, and a natural spine with lighter loads to gradually strengthen the ligaments.
S