September 8, 2011 Dear Mr.

Leavitt, I know currently you do not agree with my choice in footwear, but I ask that you read over this and give my shoes a second chance. First and foremost, the Safeway policy hand book states: SHOES: Close toed, closed back, slip resistant shoes are preferred for employee safety. The shoes in question are VibramFiveFingers. From this point on, I will refer to the shoes as VFF. Indeed they are odd, but after closer inspection, it is clear that they meet these expectations and are as safe as traditional shoes. I am willing to provide some research and facts for this basis: As per the (Occupational Safety and Health Act) OSHA standard, (American National Standards Institute) ANSI performance criteria, and (American Society for Testing and Materials) ASTM performance requirements Each affected employee shall wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employees feet are exposed to electrical hazards. 1. The most important point that I can agree with is wearing closed toed shoes while working. VFF fall into this category. Vibram has developed the FiveFingers brand as an athletic shoe, markets the FiveFingers as an athletic shoe, assembles the FiveFingers as an athletic shoe, sells the FiveFingers as an athletic shoe, and intends the FiveFingers to be worn as athletic shoe. From the VibramFiveFingers website, these shoes are designed for running, fitness training, CrossFit, trekking, bouldering, travel, and water sports. Its various cousin shoes are designed for similar exploits, including martial arts, yoga, boating, kayaking, and the list grows from there. Also, it is plainly seen just by looking at the FiveFingers that they are close-toed; sure, each toe has its own enclosure, but each toe is enclosed. As such, all the VFF shoe types are close-toed athletic shoes; thus, they meet Safeway standards. 2. The assumption that a traditional shoe is safer than the VFF is, at best, flawed. Firstly, no shoe manufacturer in its right mind will claim that its shoes offer any sort of significant protection outside of blister/callus or wart protection unless it is of ANSI standard. There is no middle ground (More to come on that later). A 50-pound dumbbell being dropped from a height of 2-3 feet onto a foot clad in a running shoe will inflict just as much damage as a foot clad in VFF. There is no special property of regular shoe fabrics that invokes a strong resistance against weight being dropped on it. If the aim is to prevent injury in the (rare) case of weight being dropped on a foot, then it will be necessary to outlaw any regular shoe. In fact, to prevent such injuries from occurring, it will be necessary to amend the policy to state that only ANSI-certified, and OSHA-compliant, shoes can be worn. This means everyone would be required to wear steel-toed shoes a bit ridiculous, and even more so than wearing VFF. Here are some fabric measurements of VFF compared to a popular standard shoe, the New Balance 615: -VFF: At its thickest, near the entry point of the foot, the thickness of the fabric is about 3 millimeters. Its thinnest point is roughly 2 millimeters, which covers the rest of the foot. Taking into account the Velcro strap across the bridge of the foot, the maximum thickness comes to about 1.1 centimeters. -New Balance 615: At its thickest (top of the tongue + laces), the fabric covering the foot is in the neighborhood of 1.4 cm. Elsewhere on the top of the shoe, especially at the toe, the thickness of the fabric is closer to 4 millimeters. This difference in material between the 615 and VFF is trivial considering it is simply fabric. For posterity, lets also assume socks are worn in both cases (yes, there are socks designed for the VFF). Its a wash, as both sets of socks measure out to a thickness of 3-4 millimeters.

3. Another potential concern is the belief that the FiveFingers shoes can slip off like slippers. This, while an adequate concern, is incorrect. Each and every VFF shoe has a method by which the shoe is secured to the foot. The Classic and Moc are secured via an elastic cord. The Sprint is secured via a Velcro strap and two heel straps and so on. 4. Yet another objection would be the soles of the FiveFingers shoes. Each variety of the VFF has a sole of Vibram TC-1 performance rubber, razor-sipped for flexibility and slip resistance. This offers grip and stability on par with typical athletic shoes; many have experienced even higher grip from VFF than from regular shoes. Yet again, this objection falls by the wayside. 5. The soles of VFF are designed to follow the contour and shape of the human foot, allowing the foot to move naturally. The sole, combined with the toe pockets, work to strengthen and stretch muscles within the foot that are oft-neglected when in regular shoes. Balance, agility, and strength are all improved when the VFF are worn over a long period of time. Furthermore, wearing VFFs put the body in a more natural body posture. The heels are not off the ground. Force is not dissipated through a heavy rubber sole (which inhibits incorporation of the feet). The sole and structure of regular athletic shoes actually results in instability during the middle of a set. With the feet off the ground, they are more prone to move; being closer to the ground (ideally, right against the ground) allows for a more solid base, again leading to a reduced chance of injury. Thus, wearing typical athletic shoes actually increases the chance of injury due to the fact that these shoes throw the human body out of its natural alignment. I know this may seem like a frivolous request, but to me it is not. I have certain medical issues that give me back and side pain. These shoes create better posture and prevent such pain. Before researching and buying Vibram FiveFingers, it was hard for me to walk even half a mile. Two days after wearing these shoes, I walked much farther (4 miles) with no sign of ovarian pain. The thought of having to go back to traditional shoes and the pain I have experienced in them is frightening. I know talking with other employees that a few have expressed interest in these shoes. I have seen many, many customers wearing them, and I think they are becoming more popular day by day. With all the health conscious people in this town, I won't be surprised when these become the norm with all the health benefits they tote. I hope that the provided information proves to you that Vibram FiveFingers are as safe as any other shoe and are acceptable for employees to wear. I am not looking to stir up problems I just want to be able to work in shoes that are comfortable and best for my body and health without being hassled. Thanks for taking the time to listen and I look forward to your response. Best regards, Jesilee Smithee