Contract work or permanent, which would you take? after 17 years as a machine operator

I got a contract offer for 17 months as a machine operator and I am unsure whether to accept. There are 17 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. I have 7 months of savings left. How did you handle benefits?

If savings are low, I would accept and keep applying. You can leave for a permanent role if one appears.