"Chief,
As a progressive officer who's read Gary Klein (and Michael Roberto, Andy Grove, and more) and not been shy about challenging the business-as-usual attitude, I've made a couple calls that have raised eyebrows and I've paid for…"
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Brian Houska
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Brian Houska's Groups
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Fitness, Wellness, Injur…
48 members
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Fire Service Leadership
313 members
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Policies and Procedures
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Good Books
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Who Wants to Be an FE Bo…
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Brian Houska's Discussions
Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank
12 Replies
Looking to save jobs and dollars, improve safety, combat complacency, and improve flexibility? Flatten your organizational chart and get rid of the Engineer rank. Instead, train all to drive and…Continue
Tags: strategy, HR, management, structure, Organizational
Started this discussion. Last reply by mmaan Dec 23, 2011.
Fire Econ 101
What are five ideas that the fire service needs to hear to progress and reduce casualties? Check out the attached Fire Econ 101.
Started Jun 10, 2010
Fire Econ 103
Think that charging for inspections is a good way to help the city budget? Think that charging for emergency services is wrong? Not so fast. Check out the attached Fire Econ 103.
Started Jun 10, 2010
Fire Econ 102
Think that saving lives and property is the primary way firefighters serve the public good? Think again. Check out the attached Fire Econ 102.
Started Jun 10, 2010
Brian Houska's Page
Latest Activity
Larry Lasich replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank"Driver Operator is not an entry level position, as such it is the department that pays for the cost of CDL, drug & physical just as they will pay to send Co. Officers to training.
So your plan is that everyone will learn how to pick a draft…"
Michael Dombroski replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank"Hi all
Down under here in Kiwi land we don't have a seperate rank for drivers. After a FF has completed two years service they can apply to become a driver and start the necessary course of learning and training. There are no set numbers or…"
Brian Houska's discussion was featuredGet Rid of an Obsolete Rank
Looking to save jobs and dollars, improve safety, combat complacency, and improve flexibility? Flatten your organizational chart and get rid of the Engineer rank. Instead, train all to drive and pump, pay the driver o' the day a little more for the additional responsibility, and avoid needless testing, uniform, and personnel moving costs.Somebody's playing the fool behind the wheel? Forget formal discipline, put the other guy behind the wheel for rest of the shift, and alter their pay codes…See More
"All Firefighters should be trained to Drive and pump with thier dept. Apparatus , as long as they are quialified to handle it and are trained the same NO SHORT CUTS"
Brian Houska replied to Jason Hoevelmann's discussion What's In Your Pockets?"Pretty much I agree with Michael Bricault. After 16 years I've pared down to three wedges, a pair of light leather work gloves, a 'biner, and 20' of 1" webbing in an outside pocket. Inside the coat I keep a pen, a notepad, and a…"
Brian Houska replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank"Ian, No problem. Glad the response cleared a few things up. I agree that an officer's job is to make sure his crew is up to snuff. I just think that having lived under both systems, we're better off without the rank -- it's a systemic…"
Ian Bruzenak replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank""Get rid of the rank and we get rid of a hiding place for those who don't want to acquire the skills needed to keep all safe. It's that simple."
Thanks for clearing some of the things up I had mentioned. I am relieved a bit now…"
Brian Houska replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank"Michael,
Thanks for the support. I certainly appreciate it.
Regards,
Brian
"
Brian Houska replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank"Ian,
Sorry but no, I don't have any anger or bad experiences from my time driving. In fact, it wasn't until after my promotion to Lt that my department got the Engineer rank. Until then, we'd had the system I adovcate -- except that…"
Ian Bruzenak replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank"A cookie cutter approach is exactly the opposite direction to be taken. Its like using particle board to make cabinets. Sure it looks nice but it wont stand up nor last like real wood. This approach will work on a small scale for a short time until…"
Michael Bricault replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank"-Brian, I have been advocating this for some time. Train everyone to understand hydraulics and to drive the apparatus. Having the driver as a tested promoted rank is unnecessary bureaucracy when everyone should be able to do the job.
-Unfortunately…"
Ian Bruzenak replied to Brian Houska's discussion Get Rid of an Obsolete Rank"You know Brian you seem to speak of the driver/engineer rank with some bit of anger by what i can only guess ( I could be wrong ) is some bad experiences in your past, but please hear me out. The driver position like the paramedic's, line…"
Brian Houska replied to Todd McKee's discussion Incident Safety Officer"I say change command succession so that the incoming senior officer becomes the Safety Officer, not the IC. This gives the power to overrule the IC to the guy who already outranks him (or her), avoiding a conflict between a junior Safety and a…"
Brian Houska joined Michael Urban's group
Fitness, Wellness, Injury Rehabilitation and Prevention
This group will be used to promote fitness and wellness among firefighters to prevent injuries and deal with the rehabilitation of the injuried firefighter.
Brian Houska commented on John Salka's group Fire Service Leadership"Chief Salka,
Acknowledging the industry-wide respect you've earned -- including mine-- I'd like to respectfully challenge you. With 16 years on the job, an infantry tour before that, and a master's degree in management, I think…"
Profile Information
- Lives in:
- 402 W Wilson St, Monticello, IL
- Department:
- 400 S Vine St, Urbana, IL
- Title/rank:
- Lieutenant
- Years of public service:
- 16
- Agency structure:
- Paid fire department
- Top issues in your department:
- Tech Rescue, Safety
- Professional Qualifications:
- Fire Officer I/EMT, Haz-Mat Tech B, SAR Tech II,
Vertical/Trench/Confined Space/Structural Collapse Tech,
M.Human Resource Mgmt, Univ of Illinois.
Pending Certs: CFPS, FO II, Inspector 1
- Topics you provide training for:
- Fitness/Safety; Officer Development
- Areas of expertise:
- Strategic management; HR economics
- Bio:
- BA Rhetoric, Univ of Illinois, 1987. US Army, Infantry, 1988-1992. Entered the fire service in 1995 with the University of Illinois FD. Survived that department's elimination and landed with Urbana Fire-Rescue in 1998.
Master in Human Resource Mgmt, Univ Illinois, 2002. Honors, 1st in class. Conducted economic analysis of US Fire Service.
Brian Houska's Blog
Intro to Better, Stronger, Safer
In the past I've refrained from trying to tempt or provoke readers by offering the startling conclusions of my work in an introduction. I've done so under the assumption that these conclusions are so contrary to popular opinion that they're more likely to drive readers away rather than engage them. I'm going to mix it up, and list a few of these so that the reader can decide if this group and blog might be worth joining or following, if only to prove me wrong. Here goes.
From… Continue
From… Continue
Posted on June 8, 2010 at 5:30pm — 3 Comments
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